Staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) have held a symbolic farewell ceremony for the outgoing chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, marking the end of his decade-long leadership of the electoral body.
In a viral video shared online, several INEC employees were seen at the commission’s headquarters singing the solemn Christian hymn “God Be With You Till We Meet Again” — a song commonly associated with funerals and final goodbyes.
The short clip has generated mixed reactions, with some describing it as a “mock farewell.”
Professor Yakubu stepped down as INEC chairman on Tuesday.
A statement from the Presidency, signed by Bayo Onanuga, noted that Yakubu had “completed his 10-year tenure” and was proceeding on terminal leave.
Yakubu, who first assumed office in November 2015 under former President Muhammadu Buhari, was reappointed for a second term in 2020. During his time as chairman, he introduced the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Results Viewing Portal (IReV), which were designed to promote transparency in Nigeria’s elections.
However, his leadership was marred by the controversies of the 2023 general elections. The failure of the IReV portal to transmit results in real-time led to nationwide outrage and accusations of manipulation from opposition candidates Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi. The outcome of the presidential election, which saw President Tinubu declared winner, was heavily disputed in court.
Despite the backlash, Yakubu defended the process, insisting that “the elections reflected the choice of Nigerians,” while blaming the glitches on technical failures.