President Bola Tinubu has nominated four national commissioners and two Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) to fill vacancies at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The nominations were announced in a statement issued on Friday, October 16, 2026, by Bayo Onanuga, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy.
The nominees will be subjected to screening and confirmation by the Senate, with Tinubu urging lawmakers to expedite the process ahead of the forthcoming elections.
New National Commissioners Named
Among the nominees, Professor Mustapha Aliu has been nominated to replace Professor Abdullahi Zuru as the national commissioner representing the North-West geopolitical zone.
Bashir Muhammed Umar was nominated to succeed Professor Muhammad Adamu as the North-Central representative.
Tinubu also recommended Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola, the current Resident Electoral Commissioner in Osun State, for appointment as the national commissioner representing the South-West. She is expected to replace Professor Cornelius Ajayi, whose tenure expires on October 24, 2026.
Meanwhile, the President reappointed Dr Bala Bila as the national commissioner representing the North-East.
Two Resident Electoral Commissioners Nominated
For the Resident Electoral Commissioner positions, Tinubu nominated retired permanent secretary Dr Samuel Akinjide Akinleye to represent Ekiti State.
Zahradden Basiru Sanusi, from Jigawa State, was also nominated to replace Professor Saidu Ahmed Babura.
The appointments are intended to fill vacancies arising from the expiration of the tenures of serving officials.
Senate Confirmation Awaits
The Senate is expected to scrutinise the nominees before confirming their appointments.
Tinubu called for an expedited confirmation process, citing the need to fill the vacancies as INEC prepares for the 2027 general elections.
The appointments come at a critical period for the electoral commission, which is responsible for organising and supervising elections across Nigeria.
The nominees’ confirmation will determine when they can formally assume their respective positions within the commission.
