Tinubu Appoints Four New INEC National Commissioners, Two RECs Ahead Of 2027 Elections
The nominations were announced in a State House press release issued on Friday, October 16, by Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy.
President Bola Tinubu has nominated four new national commissioners and two Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to fill vacancies arising from the expiration of the tenures of serving officials.
The nominations were announced in a State House press release issued on Friday, October 16, by Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy.
According to the statement, the nominees will be scrutinised by the Senate before their appointments can be confirmed.
The President also reappointed Dr Bala Bila, the national commissioner representing the North-East geopolitical zone.
Among the newly nominated national commissioners is Professor Mustapha Aliu, who is expected to replace Professor Abdullahi Zuru as the representative of the North-West zone.
Bashir Muhammed Umar was also nominated to replace Professor Muhammad Adamu as the national commissioner representing the North-Central zone.
Tinubu further recommended Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola, the current Resident Electoral Commissioner in Osun State, as the new national commissioner representing the South-West.
She is expected to replace Professor Cornelius Ajayi, whose tenure will expire on October 24, 2026.
The President also nominated two new Resident Electoral Commissioners to fill vacancies at the electoral commission.
They are Dr Samuel Akinjide Akinleye, a retired permanent secretary nominated to represent Ekiti State, and Zahradden Basiru Sanusi, from Jigawa State, who is expected to replace Professor Saidu Ahmed Babura.
The nominations come as preparations continue for the next general elections, which the presidency described as forthcoming next January.
President Tinubu urged the Senate to expedite the confirmation process, citing the need to fill the vacancies ahead of the elections.
