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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has nominated four national commissioners and two Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to fill vacancies arising from the expiration of existing tenures.
The nominations, announced by the Presidency on Friday, include representatives for the North-West, North-Central and South-West geopolitical zones, as well as two nominees for Resident Electoral Commissioner positions in Ekiti and Jigawa states.
The Senate is expected to scrutinise the nominees before their appointments can be confirmed.
According to a statement issued by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Tinubu has also reappointed Dr Bala Bila as the national commissioner representing the North-East. Blueprint reports
The President urged the Senate to expedite consideration of the nominations in view of the forthcoming general elections scheduled for January 2027.
New national commissioners for three geopolitical zones
Among the nominees is Professor Mustapha Aliu, who has been nominated as the national commissioner representing the North-West, replacing Professor Abdullahi Zuru, whose tenure has expired.
Bashir Muhammed Umar was nominated to represent the North-Central, succeeding Professor Muhammad Adamu.
The President also nominated Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola, currently the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Osun State, as the national commissioner representing the South-West.
Babalola is expected to replace Professor Cornelius Ajayi, whose tenure is due to expire on October 24, 2026.
The appointments are part of the process of filling vacancies within the electoral commission as existing tenures come to an end.
National commissioners play important roles in INEC’s administration and decision-making processes, helping to oversee the commission’s responsibilities in managing elections and other electoral activities across the country.
Their responsibilities include contributing to the implementation of electoral policies and decisions, as well as supporting the commission’s preparations for elections at different levels of government.
The confirmation process will therefore determine whether the nominees can formally assume their proposed positions.
Tinubu reappoints Bala Bila
Alongside the new nominations, Tinubu has reappointed Dr Bala Bila as the national commissioner representing the North-East.
The reappointment means Bila will continue in the position, subject to the applicable formal requirements.
The Presidency did not provide further details on the circumstances surrounding the reappointment in the announcement.
The national commissioner positions are structured around geopolitical representation, with commissioners serving within the national electoral body responsible for organising and supervising elections in Nigeria.
The latest nominations and reappointment come as INEC continues preparations for the next general elections, making the filling of vacancies within its leadership an important administrative development ahead of the polls.
Two new Resident Electoral Commissioners nominated
The President also nominated two individuals for Resident Electoral Commissioner positions.
They are retired permanent secretary Dr Samuel Akinjide Akinleye, nominated to represent Ekiti State, and Zahradden Basiru Sanusi, from Jigawa State, who is expected to replace Professor Saidu Ahmed Babura.
Resident Electoral Commissioners serve as INEC’s representatives at the state level and are involved in coordinating the commission’s activities within their respective jurisdictions.
Their responsibilities include overseeing state-level electoral administration, coordinating preparations for elections and ensuring that the commission’s operational directives are implemented.
The nominations are intended to fill vacancies in the commission’s state-level representation as part of the wider process of maintaining its administrative structure ahead of the forthcoming elections.
As with the national commissioners, the nominees will be subject to the required scrutiny before their appointments can be finalised.
Senate to scrutinise nominees ahead of elections
The Senate is expected to examine the nominations in line with the constitutional and legal procedures governing appointments to INEC.
Tinubu has specifically urged the upper chamber to expedite the confirmation process, citing the approaching general elections scheduled for January 2027.
The request comes as electoral preparations require coordination between INEC’s national leadership, its state offices and other relevant institutions.
The commission is responsible for organising and supervising federal and state elections, maintaining the electoral register and implementing the procedures that govern the conduct of polls.
Appointments to its leadership therefore form part of the institutional arrangements supporting the administration of elections.
The Senate’s consideration will determine whether the nominees meet the applicable requirements for confirmation and subsequent assumption of office.
The Presidency’s announcement did not specify when the Senate would begin or conclude its consideration of the nominees.
INEC leadership changes ahead of 2027 polls
The nominations come as Nigeria approaches another general election cycle, with political parties and electoral institutions preparing for the January 2027 polls.
Filling vacancies arising from expiring tenures is part of maintaining continuity within the commission, whose responsibilities include managing the electoral process across the federation.
The new national commissioners, if confirmed, will join the commission’s leadership at a period when preparations for the elections are expected to intensify.
Similarly, the two Resident Electoral Commissioner nominees would be expected to support INEC’s state-level operations after completing the required appointment process.
The President’s request for expedited confirmation reflects the timetable for the forthcoming elections, although the final dates and procedures for the Senate’s consideration will depend on the legislative process.
The nominations were announced in a statement dated October 16, 2026, and signed by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy.
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