Prof. Mahmood Yakubu has come out to share the reason behind his decision to step down as INEC chairman. He recently revealed that he decided to bow out to pave the way for the appointment of a new chairman.
Recall that Yakubu, on Tuesday, stepped down and handed over to a national commissioner, Ms May Agbamuche-Mbu, as acting Chairman of the commission.
The brief handover ceremony happened during the commission’s regular consultative meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners (REC) at the INEC headquarters in Abuja.
According to him, bowing out early would help the next chairman to settle down quickly ahead of the important task of conducting elections and electoral activities across the country.
Yakubu stated that as someone who has served the commission for a decade, he is aware of how key a settling period is before proper work starts.
“In the interim, I am handing over to one of the most senior national commissioners by date of appointment.
Following consultation with other national commissioners, Ms May Agbamuchembu will serve in acting capacity pending the appointment of a substantive chairman of the commission.
I hope that this will afford the appointing authorities adequate time to appoint a new chairman.
It will also enable the new chairman to quickly settle down to the task of conducting elections and electoral activities in Africa’s most demographically and logistically complex environment,” he said.
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He further appreciated members of the commission and RECs for the amazing working relationship they shared throughout his time as chairman.
Mahmood Yakubu concluded by thanking his fellow citizens for their praises and criticisms during his tenure, stressing that every comment was received as motivation to do better.
“Together, we innovated and managed the commission’s enormous responsibilities, sometimes on the verge of breaking down.
Above all, I thank Nigerians for their comments as well as criticisms which encouraged rather than discouraged us to persevere.
The bill is currently before the National Assembly. It is expected that electoral reforms contained in the new act will necessitate further review of our regulations and guidelines, as well as the manuals for elections.
Beyond these reviews, the commission needs to further clean up the voters’ register, review the locations of some of the polling units, and allotment of voters to them.
The management of party primaries is another major area of activity. You may recall that for the last general election in 2023, the Commission processed the nomination of over 20,000 candidates.
Furthermore, election logistics involving the procurement, production and transportation of huge quantities of materials by road, by air and by sea are monumental undertakings,” he added.
