‘Why i stepped down as INEC boss after 10 years in office’ – Mahmood reveals

Professor Mahmood Yakubu has said that his decision to bow out of the Independent National Electoral Commission was to pave way for the appointment of a new chairman.

Recall that Mr. Mahmood on Tuesday, stepped down and handed over to a national commissioner, Ms. May Agbamuche-Mbu, as acting Chairman of the commission.

It was learnt that the brief handover ceremony took place during the commission’s regular consultative meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners at the INEC headquarters in Abuja.

The outgoing chairman said that his bowing out 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 for him to serve.

Prof. Mahmood said: “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 Agbamuche-Mbu 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.”

“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.”