Prof. Mahmood Yakubu has said that his decision to bow out of the Independent National Electoral Commission was to pave the way for the appointment of a new chairman.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Yakubu Mahmood had, on Tuesday, stepped down and handed over to a National Commissioner, Ms May Agbamuche-Mbu, as Acting Chairman of the commission.
According to Nan’s reports the brief handover ceremony took place during the commission’s regular consultative meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners at the INEC headquarters in Abuja.
Yakubu said that his exit would also enable the person taking over to quickly settle down to the task of conducting elections and electoral activities.
He said that he knew the enormity of the challenges ahead, having been privileged to serve the commission for 10 years, with only a few more weeks remaining in his tenure.
“I have taken a decision and conveyed the same as provided by Section 36, Subsections 1 and 2 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, as amended.
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 an 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.
Yakubu expressed appreciation to members of the commission and RECs for the excellent working relationship they shared.
He noted that since 2015, he had worked with 24 national commissioners and 67 RECs.
He said that he would forever cherish the support of successive secretaries and staff of INEC nationwide.
