The Executive Director of Yiaga Africa, Samson Itodo, has said that the outgoing Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, is leaving behind a weakened electoral body despite introducing notable reforms during his decade-long tenure.
Yakubu, who completed his two-term tenure of 10 years, officially handed over to May Agbamuche-Mbu as the Acting Chairperson on Tuesday, with President Bola Tinubu expected to appoint his successor subject to Senate confirmation.
Speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Wednesday, Itodo noted that while Yakubu made significant contributions to Nigeria’s electoral process, political interference severely undermined the Commission’s independence.
“You cannot wish away that Professor Mahmood introduced remarkable reforms. We are yet, as a country, to maximise the utility and potential of those reforms because of the actions of our politicians,” Itodo said. “But I think that one thing that Professor Mahmood leaves behind to a large extent is a weak INEC, weak to the extent that there is a lot of political interference with the functions of INEC.”
He pointed out that partisan appointments and external influence in the Commission’s affairs eroded the credibility of elections.
“A classic example is the appointment of partisan Resident Electoral Commissioners,” he explained. “The chairman is not the appointing authority, but under Professor Mahmood, we saw how three Resident Electoral Commissioners were removed from office because of either insubordination, lack of competence, or manipulating the electoral process.”
Itodo added that such interference diminished public trust in the electoral system. “There are several setbacks you can look at. Where is the level of trust today in the electoral process? Other actors interfered with the functions of INEC, and that deepened the lack of integrity of the process,” he said.
Despite his criticism, Itodo acknowledged Yakubu’s technological reforms as a major milestone in Nigeria’s democratic development.
“One of the greatest legacies Mahmood leaves behind is the automation of our electoral processes, especially the introduction of technology,” he said. “The BVAS and IReV were game-changers. They deepened the integrity of the accreditation process and enhanced transparency.”
He also commended Yakubu’s commitment to inclusion, noting his efforts to involve women, youths, and persons with disabilities in the electoral process.
“Ten years in the life of an institution is indeed a long time,” Itodo remarked, reflecting on Yakubu’s decade of leadership at INEC.
What you should know
Professor Mahmood Yakubu made history as Nigeria’s first two-term INEC chairman, serving from 2015 to 2025.
His tenure was marked by both technological advancements, including the introduction of BVAS and IReV, and controversies surrounding election credibility and alleged political interference.
