President Bola Tinubu has nominated four national commissioners and two Resident Electoral Commissioners for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The nominations were announced in a statement issued on Friday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
The new national commissioners include Professor Mustapha Aliu, who will represent the North-West, and Bashir Muhammed Umar, representing the North-Central.
Tinubu also nominated Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola, the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Osun State, as the national commissioner representing the South-West. She will replace Professor Cornelius Ajayi, whose tenure expires on October 24.
The President reappointed Dr Bala Bila as the national commissioner representing the North-East.
For the position of Resident Electoral Commissioner, 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.
According to the statement, the nominations were made to fill vacancies created by the expiration of the tenures of serving officials.
“The Senate will scrutinise all the nominees,” the statement said.
Tinubu urged the Senate to expedite the confirmation process ahead of the forthcoming general elections.
The statement quoted the President as urging the lawmakers to “expedite the nominees’ confirmation in view of the forthcoming General elections next January.”
The nominees are expected to undergo Senate scrutiny before their appointments are confirmed.
Their confirmation would enable them to assume their respective roles at the electoral commission as preparations continue for the 2027 general elections.