2027: Tinubu Nominates Four INEC National Commissioners, Two RECs
POLITICS DIGEST — President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has nominated four national commissioners and two Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to fill vacancies arising from the expiration of existing tenures.
The nominations, announced in a State House press release on Friday, October 16, 2026, are subject to screening and confirmation by the Senate.
Among the nominees is Professor Mustapha Aliu, who is expected to replace Professor Abdullahi Zuru as the national commissioner representing the North-West, while Bashir Muhammed Umar will succeed Professor Muhammad Adamu as the North-Central representative.
Read Also:
The President also nominated Osun State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola, as the national commissioner representing the South-West. She is expected to replace Professor Cornelius Ajayi, whose tenure expires on October 24.
Tinubu, however, reappointed Dr Bala Bila as the national commissioner representing the North-East.
For the position of Resident Electoral Commissioners, the President 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 in view of the forthcoming general elections scheduled for January 2027.
The nominations form part of efforts to fill vacancies in the electoral commission as preparations continue for the next general elections.
The statement was signed by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, on October 16, 2026.
){kind=link}