A new chapter has begun at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as Mrs. May Agbamuche-Mbu assumes office as the Acting Chairman of Nigeria’s electoral body, following the resignation of Professor Mahmood Yakubu.
Yakubu, who has helmed INEC since 2015 and oversaw some of the most significant electoral reforms in Nigeria’s democratic history, officially stepped down on Tuesday during a meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) in Abuja. Citing Section 306 of the 1999 Constitution, he explained that his resignation was intended to “ensure a seamless transition” as the commission prepares for a busy electoral cycle ahead.
In line with INEC protocol, the National Commissioners unanimously agreed to appoint Mrs. Agbamuche-Mbu — the most senior member of the commission — to lead in an acting capacity pending the appointment and confirmation of a substantive chairman.
Her appointment marks a significant milestone, bringing a wealth of legal expertise, institutional experience, and reform-oriented leadership to the nation’s top electoral body. Here are key highlights of her background and why her leadership is attracting national attention:
May Agbamuche-Mbu is an accomplished legal practitioner with over three decades of experience across public and private sectors in Nigeria and abroad. Although she hails from Delta State, she was born and raised in Kano, where she attended the prestigious St. Louis Secondary School — a school known for producing some of Nigeria’s most accomplished women.
A graduate of the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University), where she earned her LL.B in 1984, Agbamuche-Mbu was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1985. She is also a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of England and Wales, highlighting her dual legal qualifications and international legal exposure.
Her academic credentials include an LL.M in Commercial and Corporate Law from Queen Mary and Westfield College, University of London, as well as postgraduate degrees in International Dispute Resolution and International Business Law.
Renowned for her work in mediation and arbitration, she is a member and former Secretary of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (UK), Nigeria Branch. She has also served on key national committees, including the Presidential Projects Assessment Committee (PPAC) between 2010 and 2011 and the 2016 Ministerial Committee on the Solid Minerals Sector Road Map.
Before joining INEC, Agbamuche-Mbu was Managing Partner at Norfolk Partners, a Lagos-based corporate law firm. She also made significant contributions to legal journalism as Editor of THISDAY LAWYER and as the author of the “Legal Eagle” column, publishing over 120 legal essays that shaped conversations around justice and governance.
Her elevation to the top of INEC reflects a broader confidence in her integrity, experience, and dedication to strengthening Nigeria’s democratic institutions.
As the commission transitions into a new phase, stakeholders say her leadership will be critical in building on Yakubu’s legacy of digital innovation, electoral credibility, and institutional reform.
Mrs. Agbamuche-Mbu is expected to oversee preparations for upcoming elections and guide the commission through key reforms aimed at deepening Nigeria’s democracy.
