President Tinubu has nominated six INEC commissioners for Senate confirmation as Nigeria prepares for its next general elections
Tinubu Nominates Six INEC Commissioners for Senate Approval
By Newsheadline247
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has nominated four national commissioners and two resident electoral commissioners (RECs) for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), seeking Senate confirmation to fill vacancies arising from expiring tenures.
The nominations were disclosed in a statement issued by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, on October 16, 2026.
According to the statement, Tinubu has also reappointed Dr Bala Bila as the national commissioner representing the North-East, while the Senate is expected to scrutinise the nominees before their appointments are confirmed.
Among the new national commissioner nominees is Professor Mustapha Aliu, who is expected to replace Professor Abdullahi Zuru as the representative of the North-West. Bashir Muhammed Umar has also been nominated to replace Professor Muhammad Adamu as the North-Central representative.
The President further nominated 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, 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 come as preparations for Nigeria’s next general elections draw closer, placing renewed attention on the leadership and administrative capacity of the electoral commission.
Tinubu has urged the Senate to expedite the confirmation process in view of the forthcoming general elections, stressing the need to fill the vacancies ahead of the polls.
The nominees will, however, have to undergo the Senate’s scrutiny before their appointments can be finalised.
INEC is responsible for organising and conducting federal and state elections in Nigeria. The commission’s composition and operational readiness remain significant to preparations for the next electoral cycle, particularly as political parties and stakeholders begin positioning themselves for the polls.
