President Bola Tinubu has asked the Senate to expedite the confirmation of six nominees for positions at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), as Nigeria prepares for the 2027 general elections.
The nominations cover four national commissioner positions and two Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) positions. The President has also reappointed Dr Bala Bila as the national commissioner representing the North-East.
The development is part of efforts to fill vacancies arising from the expiration of the tenures of serving electoral officials and ensure that the commission has the personnel needed for its constitutional responsibilities.
According to a statement issued on Friday by Bayo Onanuga, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, the nominees will be scrutinised by the Senate before their appointments can be confirmed.
Who Are Tinubu’s INEC Commissioner Nominees?
The nominees for the national commissioner positions include Professor Mustapha Aliu, nominated to represent the North-West, and Bashir Muhammed Umar, nominated for the North-Central zone.
Aliu is expected to replace Professor Abdullahi Zuru, while Umar is to succeed Professor Muhammad Adamu.
Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola, the current Resident Electoral Commissioner in Osun State, has also been nominated as the 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 serve in Ekiti State and Zahradden Basiru Sanusi from Jigawa State to replace Professor Saidu Ahmed Babura.
The President also reappointed Dr Bala Bila to continue as the national commissioner representing the North-East.
Why the Appointments Matter Ahead of 2027
INEC is responsible for organising and supervising federal and state elections, registering voters, conducting voter education and announcing election results in accordance with the law.
With the 2027 general elections approaching, filling vacant positions is important to the commission’s administrative readiness and its ability to coordinate election preparations across the country.
The Senate’s screening and confirmation process will determine whether the nominees can formally assume their respective positions.
However, the nominations alone do not mean that the nominees have been confirmed. They must first complete the required constitutional process.
What Happens Next?
The next major step is the Senate’s consideration of the nominees. Tinubu has urged lawmakers to speed up the process in view of the forthcoming elections.
The confirmation process will be closely watched by political parties, election observers and other stakeholders interested in INEC’s preparedness, independence and capacity to conduct credible elections.
As preparations for 2027 continue, attention will also remain on voter registration, electoral logistics, security and public confidence in the electoral process.
WeGoTalk.com.ng will continue to monitor developments surrounding the INEC nominations and other preparations for the 2027 general elections.
