President Bola Tinubu has nominated four national commissioners and two resident electoral commissioners for the Independent National Electoral Commission, while reappointing Bala Bila as the North-East representative.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has nominated four national commissioners and two resident electoral commissioners for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to fill vacancies arising from the expiration of existing tenures.
The nominations were announced in a State House press release issued on Friday, October 16 2026, by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy.
According to the statement, the nominees will be scrutinised by the Senate as part of the confirmation process.
The President also reappointed Dr Bala Bila as the national commissioner representing the North-East geopolitical zone.
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 was nominated to replace Professor Muhammad Adamu as the North-Central representative.
For the South-West, Tinubu recommended Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola, the current Resident Electoral Commissioner in Osun State, as national commissioner. She is expected to replace Professor Cornelius Ajayi, whose tenure expires on October 24, 2026.
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 from Jigawa State, who is expected to replace Professor Saidu Ahmed Babura.
President Tinubu urged the Senate to expedite the confirmation process, citing the forthcoming general elections scheduled for January 2027.
The appointments are expected to fill vacancies within INEC’s leadership structure as preparations continue for the upcoming electoral cycle.
The Senate’s consideration and confirmation of the nominees will determine their formal appointment to the respective positions.
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