A National Commissioner at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), May Agbamuche-Mbu, has taken over as the acting Chairman of the Commission.
This followed the formal handover of duties by Professor Mahmood Yakubu, who is proceeding on a terminal leave.
The transition was announced during a stakeholders’ meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners held on Tuesday at the INEC headquarters in Abuja.
Speaking at the meeting, Yakubu explained that he was stepping down in accordance with Section 306, Subsections 1 and 2 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
Here are eleven things to know about the new acting INEC chair, May Agbamuche-Mbu:
READ ALSO: Dangote vs PENGASSAN: Critical lessons for Nigeria’s economic future by Emir Sanusi, Kukah, Atedo, others
1. May Agbamuche-Mbu was born in Kano but hails from Delta State.
2. She attended St. Louis Secondary School, Kano.
3. After her secondary education, she proceeded to the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University), where she earned her Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree in 1984 with an LLB in Law.
4. 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.
6. Agbamuche-Mbu holds an LLM specializing in Commercial and Corporate Law from Queen Mary and Westfield College, London; completed two additional postgraduate programs in International Dispute Resolution and International Business Law.
7. She is a recognized expert in Alternative Dispute Resolution.
8. Agbamuche-Mbu is a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, United Kingdom Nigeria branch, where she served as Secretary.
9. She served on the Presidential Projects Assessment Committee (PPAC) from March 2010 to November 2011 as the sole solicitor, evaluating a nationwide portfolio of major unfinished public projects in Nigeria.
10. She was appointed in March 2016 as a member of the Ministerial Committee to prepare the Road Map for the Solid Minerals Sector.
11. Prior to her INEC appointment, she served as managing partner of her law firm, Norfolk Partners, in Lagos.