President Bola Tinubu has conferred the national honour of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) on the outgoing Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, marking the end of his second term in office.
The announcement was made on Tuesday in a statement by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, who stated that the recognition was a testament to Yakubu’s contributions to Nigeria’s democratic process.
According to Onanuga, President Tinubu expressed appreciation for Yakubu’s “services to the nation and his efforts to sustain Nigeria’s democracy, particularly through the organisation of free and fair elections throughout his two-term tenure.”
The President also directed Yakubu to hand over leadership of the commission to May Agbamuche-Mbu, the most senior national commissioner, who will oversee INEC’s activities pending the appointment of a new chairman.
Yakubu, who was first appointed in November 2015 as the 14th INEC chairman and reappointed in 2020, has now completed a decade of service leading the nation’s electoral body.
What you should know
Professor Mahmood Yakubu’s tenure as INEC chairman spanned two administrations and witnessed significant electoral reforms, including the introduction of technological innovations like BVAS and IReV.
His recognition with a CON award underscores his lasting influence on Nigeria’s democratic evolution.
