May Agbamuche-Mbu, a National Commissioner at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has assumed office as Acting Chairman of the Commission following the commencement of terminal leave by Professor Mahmood Yakubu.
The handover was done during a meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) at the INEC headquarters in Abuja, on Tuesday.
Agbamuche-Mbu, a lawyer with over three decades of professional experience, takes the helm at a crucial moment as the Commission continues efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s electoral process and implement ongoing reforms.
SPONSOR AD
Below are some things to know about her:
EARLY LIFE AND EDUCATION
Born in Kano but originally from Delta State, Agbamuche-Mbu’s upbringing in northern Nigeria shaped her inclusive outlook and commitment to national unity.
She attended St. Louis Secondary School, Kano, and later earned a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree from the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) in 1984. She was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1985 and later qualified as a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of England and Wales after completing studies at the College of Law, London.
She also holds a Master’s degree in Commercial and Corporate Law from Queen Mary and Westfield College, University of London, with additional postgraduate qualifications in International Dispute Resolution and International Business Law.
CAREER AND PUBLIC SERVICE
Before joining INEC, Agbamuche-Mbu was Managing Partner at Norfolk Partners, a Lagos-based law firm. She served as the sole solicitor to the Presidential Projects Assessment Committee between 2010 and 2011 and later joined the Ministerial Committee that drafted the Roadmap for the Solid Minerals Sector in 2016.
Appointed as an INEC National Commissioner in 2016, she has since contributed to legal reforms, stakeholder engagement, and electoral policy development within the Commission.
CONTRIBUTIONS TO LEGAL DEVELOPMENT
A certified arbitrator and former Secretary of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (Nigeria), Agbamuche-Mbu has also made her mark as a legal writer. Between 2014 and 2016, she authored over 120 editions of the “Legal Eagle” column in THISDAY Lawyer, addressing issues of law, governance, and policy.
PERSONAL LIFE
Known for her professionalism and quiet leadership style, Agbamuche-Mbu keeps her personal life private.
Her assumption as Acting INEC Chairman marks a significant transition for the Commission as it prepares for future elections and works to deepen electoral integrity in Nigeria.
