Tinubu Nominates Six INEC Officials Ahead of 2027 General Elections

President Bola Tinubu has nominated four national commissioners and two Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), following vacancies arising from the expiration of existing tenures.

The nominations were announced in a State House statement issued on Friday by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy.

According to the statement, the nominees will be screened by the Senate before their confirmation.

Tinubu 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 was nominated to replace Professor Muhammad Adamu as the national commissioner representing the North-Central geopolitical zone.

The President also nominated Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola, the current Resident Electoral Commissioner in Osun State, as the national commissioner representing the South-West.

Babalola is expected to succeed Professor Cornelius Ajayi, whose tenure expires on October 24.

For the positions of Resident Electoral Commissioners, Tinubu nominated retired permanent secretary Dr Samuel Akinjide Akinleye to represent Ekiti State and Zahradden Basiru Sanusi from Jigawa State to replace Professor Saidu Ahmed Babura.

The President urged the Senate to expedite the confirmation process ahead of the forthcoming general elections, which the statement said are scheduled for January next year.

The nominations come as INEC prepares for the 2027 general elections, with the proposed appointments expected to fill vacancies in the commission’s leadership and electoral administration.