Mbata was elected at the Ohanaeze Ndigbo General Assembly meeting held at the Old Government Lodge, Enugu on Friday. With the election, Mbata would succeed Nze Ozichukwu Chukwu, who was appointed to complete the tenure of the late Chief Emmanuel lwuanyanwu from Imo State. He was elected by consensus in the election which was witnessed by the Governors of Enugu, Imo and Anambra States, as well as Senators Chris Ngige, Ben Obi, Victor Umeh and other Igbo dignitaries.