Prominent lawyer and civil rights activist, Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, has been elected Chair of the Transition Monitoring Group (TMG), a coalition of 400 civil society organisations.

With this development, Akiyode-Afolabi, former Public Relations Officer of the Students Union Government (SUG) of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, has made history as the second woman to lead TMG, after Ayo Obe of the famous Civil Liberties Organisation, during the military era.

The TMG leadership election which took place during the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the group, which held at the TopRank Galaxy Hotel, Jabi Abuja, produced 10 other Board members to pilot the affairs of Nigeria’s foremost election observation coalition for the next four years.

The new TMG Board is made up of the Chair, the Vice Chair, six representatives of the geo-political zones, and one representative each for youth and People Living with Disability (PWDs).

Running unopposed, Dr. Akiyode-Afolabi emerged leader of Nigeria’s foremost civil society coalition. She will be taking the reins from Comrade Dr. Ibrahim M. Zikirullahi who has led TMG since 2012.

In her acceptance speech, the new TMG leader thanked her predecessor for giving TMG quality leadership and for his charisma. She equally commended other past leaders of the coalition for laying the foundation “upon which the current Board will build on for a greater and better Nigeria.

The elected TMG Board members are: Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi of Women Advocates, Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC), based in Lagos, Chair, Mr. Okeke Anya, Civil Society Legislative Action Centre (CISLAC) based in the FCT, Vice Chair, Mr. Abdiel Kude, Global Community Prime Initiative, based in Kaduna State, Treasurer, Mr. Mustapha Mohammed, Democratic Action Group (DAG) based in Kano, Representative for North West

Mr. Musa Adamu Abubakar, Bauchi Human Rights Network, based in Bauchi State, Representative for North East, Dr. Salifu Arome, Africa Youth Foundation, based in Kogi State, Representative for North Central, Chief Nengi James, Niger Delta Development Monitoring Group, based in Bayelsa State, Representative for South South, Mr. Sulaimon Arigbabu, HEDA Resource Centre based in Lagos, Representative for South West, Mr. Okey Onyeka, Representative for the South East, Ms. Ekaete Judith Umoh, Joint National Association of Persons Living with Disabilities (JONAPWD) based in the FCT, Representative of People Living with Disabilities, Mr. Tijani Abdulkereem, Socio Economic Research Centre, based in the FCT, Representative for Youth.

The new Board will be inaugurated on Monday, August 22, 2016, at the TMG National Secretariat in Gwarimpa, FCT Abuja.

•Photo showsTMG Chairman, Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi.