Maurice Iwu

Maurice Mmaduakolam Iwu (born 21 April 1950) is a Nigerian professor of pharmacognosy and the chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from June 2005 to April 2010.

Background Maurice Mmaduakolam Iwu was born on 21 April 1950, in Umuezeala, Umukabia, Ehime Mbano in Imo State. He attended Saint Pius X College, Bodo-Ogoni for his secondary education. He studied at the University of Bradford, England, receiving a Master's degree in Pharmacy in 1976, and a Ph.D in 1978. He was a World Health Organization (WHO) Visiting Scholar to Dyson Perrins Laboratory, University of Oxford (1980), Fulbright Senior Scholar, Ohio State University and won the U.S National Research International Prize for Ethnobiology in 1999. He was a professor of pharmacognosy at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (1984–1993). He was the Executive Director, Bioresources Development and Conservation Program and a Senior Research Associate at the Division of Experimental Therapeutics of Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Washington D.C.

In December 2008, Abubakar Rimi called on Maurice Iwu, to resign from office, citing irregularities in the previous presidential election. Michael Aondoakaa, the Attorney General, opposed sacking Maurice Iwu despite criticism of Iwu's conduct of the 2007 elections.

In March 2009, the Vice-Chairman of Senate Committee on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Maina Maaji Lawan spoke against a motion that questioned the integrity of INEC Chairman Maurice Iwu. Iwu's tenure was due to expire on 13 June 2010. However, on 28 April 2010, Acting President Goodluck Jonathan, who has committed himself to pursuing electoral reform, removed Iwu from office.

Selected bibliography Iwu's published academic papers.

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