With preparations for the 2027 general elections gathering momentum, President Bola Tinubu has moved to fill key vacancies in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), nominating six persons for positions in the electoral body.
The nominations cover four national commissioner positions and two Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) positions, with the appointments subject to confirmation by the Senate.
Bayo Onanuga, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, announced the development on Friday.
Among the nominees is Dr Bala Bila, who has been reappointed as national commissioner representing the North-East.
Tinubu nominated Professor Mustapha Aliu to represent the North-West, replacing Professor Abdullahi Zuru, while Bashir Muhammed Umar will take over the North-Central slot from Professor Muhammad Adamu.
The President also nominated Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola, the current REC in Osun State, as national commissioner representing the South-West. She is expected to replace Professor Cornelius Ajayi, whose tenure expires on October 24.
The two REC nominations cover Ekiti and Jigawa states.
Tinubu nominated retired Permanent Secretary Dr Samuel Akinjide Akinleye for Ekiti State, while Zahradden Basiru Sanusi was nominated for Jigawa State, where he is expected to replace Professor Saidu Ahmed Babura.
The President has urged the Senate to expedite the confirmation process, citing the need to fill the vacancies ahead of the forthcoming general elections.
The nominations come at a critical period for INEC as it prepares for the 2027 elections, when the commission will face heightened public scrutiny over its management of the electoral process.
However, the nominees must first secure Senate confirmation before their appointments can be finalised.