President Bola Tinubu has nominated four national commissioners and two Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), following vacancies created by the expiration of the tenures of serving officials.
The Presidency announced the nominations on Friday, October 16, 2026, while confirming that the Senate would scrutinise the nominees before their appointments are finalised.
Tinubu also reappointed Dr Bala Bila as the national commissioner representing the North-East geopolitical zone and urged the Senate to expedite the confirmation process ahead of the forthcoming general elections.
Tinubu Names New National Commissioners
Among the nominees, Professor Mustapha Aliu has been nominated to replace Professor Abdullahi Zuru as the national commissioner representing the North-West.
Bashir Muhammed Umar was nominated to replace Professor Muhammad Adamu as the North-Central representative.
The President also recommended Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola, the current Resident Electoral Commissioner in Osun State, for appointment as the national commissioner representing the South-West.
Babalola is expected to succeed Professor Cornelius Ajayi, whose tenure expires on October 24, 2026.
Meanwhile, Bila’s reappointment will retain him as the commissioner representing the North-East, alongside the proposed changes in the commission’s leadership.
Two Resident Electoral Commissioners Nominated
For the Resident Electoral Commissioner positions, Tinubu nominated 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.
Resident Electoral Commissioners oversee INEC’s activities at the state level, helping coordinate electoral preparations and implement the commission’s directives within their respective jurisdictions.
The appointments are intended to fill vacancies and maintain the commission’s administrative structure as preparations for the next general elections continue.
Senate to Scrutinise Nominees
The nominees will undergo Senate scrutiny as part of the process required before their appointments can be confirmed.
Tinubu has called on lawmakers to expedite their consideration, citing the need to fill the vacancies ahead of the forthcoming general elections.
The confirmation process will determine when the nominees can formally assume their respective positions.
INEC Prepares for 2027 General Elections
The nominations come as INEC and other electoral stakeholders prepare for the 2027 general elections.
The commission is responsible for organising federal and state elections, registering eligible voters, accrediting political parties and candidates, and announcing election results in accordance with the law.
Filling vacancies in its leadership is therefore an important administrative step as the electoral process moves towards the next polls.
However, the credibility of the elections will depend not only on appointments but also on the commission’s operational readiness, transparency, independence and ability to administer the process fairly.
With the nominations now announced, attention turns to the Senate’s consideration of the candidates and the completion of the appointment process ahead of the election period.
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