President Bola 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 serving officials’ tenures.
According to a statement signed by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, on Friday, October 16, 2026, the nominations have been forwarded for Senate scrutiny and confirmation.
The President has also reappointed Dr Bala Bila as the national commissioner representing the North-East geopolitical zone.
For the North-West, Tinubu nominated Professor Mustapha Aliu to replace Professor Abdullahi Zuru, while Bashir Muhammed Umar was nominated to succeed Professor Muhammad Adamu as the national commissioner representing the North-Central zone.
Tinubu also recommended Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola, the 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 expires on October 24.
For the Resident Electoral Commissioner positions, the President nominated retired permanent secretary Dr Samuel Akinjide Akinleye to represent Ekiti State.
The other nominee, Zahradden Basiru Sanusi from Jigawa State, is expected to replace Professor Saidu Ahmed Babura.
The appointments are subject to Senate scrutiny and confirmation in line with the applicable procedures for appointing officials to the electoral commission.
Tinubu urged the Senate to expedite the confirmation process in view of the forthcoming general elections, which the statement said were scheduled for January.
The nominations form part of efforts to fill vacancies at INEC as the commission prepares for its electoral responsibilities ahead of the next general elections.
