Mrs. May Agbamuche-Mbu is now the Acting Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), following the terminal leave of Professor Mahmood Yakubu.
Here are the top things to know about the new Acting INEC Chair:
1. Seasoned Legal Expert with Decades of Experience
Mrs. Agbamuche-Mbu is a highly accomplished legal practitioner with over three decades of experience in both the public and private sectors. Her extensive legal background is particularly relevant to the role, as the conduct of elections is deeply intertwined with constitutional and electoral law.
- Education: She is an alumna of the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) with an LLB in Law. She also holds an LLM with specialization in Commercial and Corporate Law from Queen Mary and Westfield College, London, and is qualified as a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of England and Wales.
- Specialization: She is an expert in Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) and a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators of the United Kingdom (Nigeria Branch).
- Previous Work: Before joining INEC, she was the managing partner of her law firm, Norfolk Partners, and served as the editor of THISDAY LAWYER.
2. Senior National Commissioner
Her appointment as Acting Chairman is based on her seniority among the National Commissioners by date of appointment. This continuity of leadership is vital during a transition period.
- Reappointed Commissioner: She was first appointed as a National Commissioner and was later re-appointed for a second term by former President Muhammadu Buhari, demonstrating trust in her performance within the Commission.
- Geopolitical Zone: She represents the South-South geopolitical zone (Delta State) as a National Commissioner.
3. Head of INEC Legal Services
Within the Commission, Mrs. Agbamuche-Mbu has held the crucial role as the Chairman of the Legal Services, Clearance, and Complaints Committee (LSCCC). This position makes her the Commission’s top legal officer, placing her at the heart of all major policy, legal, and electoral disputes that INEC handles. Her experience in this portfolio gives her an essential understanding of the legal vulnerabilities and procedural requirements for conducting elections.
4. Experience in Public Service Oversight
Prior to her work at INEC, she was involved in high-level public sector oversight, providing her with experience in managing complex government projects.
- Presidential Projects Assessment Committee (PPAC): Between 2010 and 2011, she served on the PPAC as the sole solicitor, where she was responsible for evaluating a nationwide portfolio of major unfinished public projects in Nigeria.
She assumes the role of Acting Chairman as INEC manages preparations for several major off-cycle elections, including the upcoming Anambra State governorship election and is simultaneously planning for the 2027 general elections.
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