President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has nominated six commissioners for appointment to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), urging the Senate to expedite their confirmation ahead of the January 2027 general elections.
The nominations, comprising four national commissioners and two resident electoral commissioners, are intended to fill vacancies created by the expiration of some serving members’ tenures.
The President also approved the reappointment of Dr Bala Bila, the national commissioner representing the Northeast geopolitical zone, for another term.
According to a statement issued on Friday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the Senate will scrutinise and confirm the nominees.
The statement identified the new national commissioner nominees as Professor Mustapha Aliu, who will replace Professor Abdullahi Zuru as the Northwest representative, and Bashir Muhammed Umar, who will succeed Professor Muhammad Adamu as the North Central representative.
Tinubu also nominated the incumbent Resident Electoral Commissioner in Osun State, Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola, to be appointed national commissioner for the Southwest geopolitical zone.
Babalola, whose nomination would involve her transition from a state-level electoral position to the commission’s national leadership, is expected to replace Professor Cornelius Ajayi, whose tenure expires on October 24, 2026.
For the resident electoral commissioner positions, the President nominated a retired permanent secretary, Dr Samuel Akinjide Akinleye, to represent Ekiti State.
The President also nominated Zahradden Basiru Sanusi from Jigawa State to replace Professor Saidu Ahmed Babura.
The appointments, which are subject to Senate confirmation, come as INEC intensifies preparations for the 2027 general elections.
Onanuga explained that the President had requested accelerated legislative consideration of the nominations because the elections are approaching and scheduled to begin in January.
All six nominees, including the national commissioner recommended for reappointment, are expected to undergo the Senate’s screening and confirmation process before assuming their respective positions.
