Mrs. May Agbamuche-Mbu has assumed the position of Acting Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission following Professor Mahmood Yakubu’s resignation announcement on Tuesday.
Yakubu, who began his tenure in 2015, informed Resident Electoral Commissioners of his departure during a meeting in Abuja. His exit closes a chapter marked by significant reforms and the introduction of digital technologies in Nigeria’s electoral system.
The outgoing chairman invoked Section 306 of the 1999 Constitution to facilitate an orderly handover as the commission faces a packed electoral calendar. National Commissioners unanimously selected Agbamuche-Mbu, the senior-most member, to lead on an acting basis until a permanent chairman receives confirmation.
Agbamuche-Mbu brings more than 30 years of legal practice to her new role. Her career has spanned work with clients in both government and business across Nigeria and internationally.
Born and raised in Kano despite her Delta State origins, she attended St. Louis Secondary School, an institution recognized for educating prominent Nigerian women. She obtained her LLB from the University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University, in 1984.
Her legal qualifications extend across jurisdictions. After joining the Nigerian Bar in 1985, she later qualified as a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of England and Wales. She pursued further studies at Queen Mary and Westfield College, University of London, earning an LLM in Commercial and Corporate Law, alongside two additional postgraduate qualifications in International Dispute Resolution and International Business Law.
Her specialization in Alternative Dispute Resolution is demonstrated through her membership in the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, Nigeria Branch, where she previously held the position of Secretary. This background reflects her proficiency in mediation and arbitration processes.
Agbamuche-Mbu’s public service record includes appointment as the only solicitor on the Presidential Projects Assessment Committee between 2010 and 2011, which examined incomplete federal projects across the country. Five years later, she participated in the Ministerial Committee responsible for creating a development plan for Nigeria’s solid minerals industry.
Prior to her INEC role, she established and ran Norfolk Partners in Lagos, a law firm where she delivered corporate legal services and trained younger attorneys.
Her contributions to legal journalism include serving as Editor of THISDAY LAWYER, the legal section of ThisDay Newspaper. Between 2014 and 2016, she wrote the “LEGAL EAGLE” column, producing more than 120 editorials on legal matters that shaped discussions on policy and law.
Her transition from National Commissioner to Acting Chairman represents a natural progression in her dedication to democratic institutions, transparency, and public accountability in Nigeria’s electoral framework.