President Bola Tinubu has reappointed Dr Bala Bila as a National Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and nominated six other individuals to fill vacant positions within the electoral body ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The nominations comprise four National Commissioners and two Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs), following the expiration of the tenures of some serving officials.
The development was announced in a statement issued on Friday by Bayo Onanuga, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, who disclosed that the nominees would be subjected to Senate screening and confirmation.
Among the nominees, Professor Mustapha Aliu is expected to replace Professor Abdullahi Zuru as the National Commissioner representing the North-West, while Bashir Muhammed Umar has been nominated to succeed Professor Muhammad Adamu as the North-Central representative.
Tinubu also nominated Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola, the current Resident Electoral Commissioner in Osun State, to serve as the National Commissioner representing the South-West. She is expected to replace Professor Cornelius Ajayi, whose tenure expires on October 24, 2026.
For the Resident Electoral Commissioner positions, the President nominated retired permanent secretary, Dr Samuel Akinjide Akinleye, to represent Ekiti State. Zahradden Basiru Sanusi, from Jigawa State, was also nominated to replace Professor Saidu Ahmed Babura.
The nominations are intended to fill vacancies created by the completion of the tenures of existing commissioners and strengthen the electoral commission ahead of the next general elections.
Tinubu urged the Senate to expedite the screening and confirmation process, citing the need to fill the vacant positions before the January 2027 general elections.
The nominees’ appointments will become effective following the Senate’s screening and confirmation.
