When Professor Mahmood Yakubu was appointed Chairman of Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) back in 2015, many believed he was the chosen one — the academic with a chalkboard mind and an iron sense of fairness, sent to cleanse Nigeria’s electoral sins.
He had the pedigree. He had the poise. And most importantly, he had no known godfather breathing down his neck. For a brief moment, democracy dared to dream.
But ten years later, as the curtain falls on Yakubu’s tenure, the jury is still out.
Was he a quiet reformer sabotaged by Nigeria’s chaotic ecosystem? Or was he the poster boy for overpromising and underdelivering — a man who introduced cutting-edge electoral tech but still couldn’t upload results on time?
To some, he’s the father of BVAS and the god of IReV. To others, he’s the reason why “technical glitch” became a national punchline in 2023.
And then there’s the spicy part: the court battles, the accusations of bias, the early morning “election postponed due to logistics” announcements that left Nigerians wondering if INEC runs on vibes and diesel.
Mahmood Yakubu’s story isn’t simple — it’s a tale of ambition, innovation, controversy, and more plot twists than a Nollywood thriller.
It’s a decade that redefined Nigeria’s democratic journey, for better or for buzzwords.
So buckle up — we’re diving into ten unforgettable highlights (and lowlights) from a rollercoaster tenure that started with hope, stumbled through hardware hiccups, and ended with a legacy that still sparks heated debates at beer parlours and newsrooms alike.
1. From Chalkboards to Biometric Drama
When Yakubu assumed the chair in 2015, the election toolkit was still haunted by tales of impersonation, missing results, smart‑card readers that were more drama than function.
Fast forward: INEC introduced BVAS (Bimodal Voter Accreditation System) — fingerprints + facial recognition. A leap forward, yes; but many Nigerians still joke: “You show your face, INEC shows delay.”
2. IReV: The Miracle that Sometimes Forgot its Promise
The INEC Results Viewing Portal (IReV) was unveiled as transparency incarnate — polling unit results uploaded in real time. Music to democracy lovers’ ears. But then came the glitches.
In high‑stakes contests like the 2023 presidential poll, results stalled, uploads failed, people rioted (verbally). Trust cracked.
3. Voters Registering As If There’s No Tomorrow
Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) became his legacy move. Nigerians were allowed to register (or update their details) outside the heat of campaign season.
The register swelled to over 93 million voters — the biggest in Africa. More people wanted to vote. Whether all those registrations translated to votes is another story.
4. Polling Units Popping Up Everywhere
One serious issue before has always been: “Where’s my polling unit?” Long walks, long queues, long frustrations.
Under Yakubu, INEC created tens of thousands of new polling units (56,872 in 2021 was one big expansion) so people wouldn’t have to trek too far or bribe someone to let them jump queue.
5. Election Calendar: No More Surprise Dates
“Did someone change the date again?” became less of a question.
Yakubu regularised when general elections happen: third Saturday in February for Presidential / National Assembly, with Governorship & State Assembly two weeks later.
Predictability: good. Surprise factor: less so.
6. Law & Reform: Not Just Smoke and Mirrors
The Electoral Act 2022 dropped under his watch. It codified some of the tech innovations, tightened up regulations, laid down rules for result transmission, and tried to pull party primaries and dispute resolution out of the swamp.
7. Inclusion: Not an Afterthought (Most of the Time)
It’s not just about numbers. Yakubu pushed for representation: Women in senior roles, assistive tools for Persons with Disabilities, IDPs (Internally Displaced Persons) being allowed to vote where possible. Braille ballots.
Priority queues for the elderly and pregnant. Some places delivered, others lagged. But the intention was there.
8. The Technology Ballet: Mostly Graceful, Sometimes Tripping
Technology became his signature. Portals for candidate nomination, agent accreditation, observe‑observer, media, etc. Powerful stuff. But you know dance: even the best ballet has missteps. IReV glitches.
Connectivity problems in remote areas. Allegations of rushed deployment without full legal or infrastructure backing.
9. Critics, Courts & “Did He Favour Them?” Moments
No exit without fire. During his stretch, some accused INEC of favouritism: delays in materials in “opposition strongholds,” bias claims, legal wrangles over party primaries.
Some felt the “neutral umpire” was leaning. Courtrooms became common battlegrounds. Yakubu himself often had to put on his “I answer to the constitution, not party” voice.
10. The Legacy — And the Shadow It Leaves
What will history remember? The biggest voter registry in Nigeria, a more tech‑enabled INEC, new polling units, laws that attempt to lock in reforms.
Also Read: Yakubu Hands Over To May Agbamuche-Mbu as Acting INEC Chairman
But also: the trust deficits when IReV failed, the logistical messes, the accusations of bias and favoritism, and the vision that sometimes outpaced implementation.
His exit is not perfect, but he reshaped the terrain. Nigeria’s elections will never look the same.
Curtain Falls, But The Stage Is Set
As Mahmood Yakubu hands over the baton (with May Agbamuche‑Mbu stepping in as Acting Chair from October 7, 2025), it’s clear: a lot of the tools are in place, but the performance was uneven.
The next crew must polish the show, fix the stumbles, and earn back any lost trust.
If you ask me, Yakubu’s decade will be stamped as ambition with friction.
He modernised the scorecard, but sometimes the scoreboard jammed. For tomorrow’s elections, Nigerians will expect less jam, more justice — and maybe a touch of showmanship, minus the glitches.
