Tinubu Nominates Four INEC Commissioners, Urges Senate to Fast-Track Confirmation
President Bola Tinubu nominates four INEC national commissioners and two resident electoral commissioners, urging the Senate to expedite their confirmation ahead of upcoming elections.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has nominated six officials to fill vacancies at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), including four national commissioners and two resident electoral commissioners, as the Federal Government moves to complete the commission’s leadership appointments.
The nominations, announced in a State House press release on Friday, October 16, 2026, followed the expiration of the tenures of some serving officials.
The nominees are expected to undergo Senate scrutiny and confirmation in line with the constitutional process governing appointments to the electoral body.
President Tinubu has also reappointed Dr Bala Bila as the national commissioner representing the North-East geopolitical zone.
Among the newly nominated national commissioners 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 national commissioner representing the North-Central zone.
For the South-West, the President has recommended Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola, the serving Resident Electoral Commissioner in Osun State, for appointment as a national commissioner. She is expected to succeed Professor Cornelius Ajayi, whose tenure expires on October 24.
The two nominees for Resident Electoral Commissioner positions are Dr Samuel Akinjide Akinleye, a retired permanent secretary nominated to represent Ekiti State, and Zahradden Basiru Sanusi of Jigawa State.
Sanusi is expected to replace Professor Saidu Ahmed Babura.
Tinubu Seeks Expedited Confirmation
The President has urged the Senate to expedite the screening and confirmation of the nominees, citing the need to fill the vacancies ahead of the forthcoming general elections scheduled for January, as stated in the Presidency’s announcement.
The appointments are expected to form part of the process of maintaining the commission’s leadership structure as it prepares for its electoral responsibilities.
INEC is responsible for organising and supervising elections in Nigeria, making appointments to its leadership a matter of national political and electoral importance.
The Senate is expected to scrutinise the nominees before taking a decision on their confirmation.
The announcement was signed by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, on October 16, 2026.
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