Tinubu Names Six New INEC Nominees

President Bola Tinubu has reappointed  Bala Bila as a National Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and nominated six others to fill vacancies in the electoral body.

The nominations comprise four National Commissioners and two Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs), following the expiration of the tenures of some serving officials.

According to a statement issued on Friday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the nominees will be screened and confirmed by the Senate.

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President Tinubu nominates 4 new INEC national commissioners and 2 Resident Electoral Commissioners

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has nominated four new national commissioners and two new resident electoral commissioners to fill vacancies at the Independent National Electoral Commission created by expiring tenures.

The Senate will scrutinise all the nominees.

However, the President reappointed Dr Bala Bila, the national commissioner representing the North East.

The new national commissioners are Professor Mustapha Aliu, who will replace Professor Abdullahi Zuru as the North West representative; and Bashir Muhammed Umar, who will replace Professor Muhammad Adamu as the North Central representative.

President Tinubu recommended Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola, the resident electoral commissioner in Osun, as the new South West national commissioner. She will replace Professor Cornelius Ajayi, whose tenure expires on October 24.

The two new resident electoral commissioners are retired permanent secretary Dr Samuel Akinjide Akinleye, to represent Ekiti State, and Zahradden Basiru Sanusi, from Jigawa, who will replace Professor Saidu Ahmed Babura.

President Tinubu urged the Senate to expedite the nominees’ confirmation in view of the forthcoming General elections next January.

Bayo Onanuga
Special Adviser to the President
(Information and Strategy)
October 16, 2026

— Bayo Onanuga, OON, CON (@aonanuga1956) October 16, 2026

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has nominated four new national commissioners and two new resident electoral commissioners to fill vacancies at the Independent National Electoral Commission created by expiring tenures,” the statement read.

Professor Mustapha Aliu was nominated to replace Professor Abdullahi Zuru as the National Commissioner representing the North-West, while Bashir Muhammed Umar was nominated to take over from Professor Muhammad Adamu as the North-Central representative.

Tinubu also nominated Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola, the current Resident Electoral Commissioner in Osun State, as the National Commissioner representing the South-West. She is expected to replace Professor Cornelius Ajayi, whose tenure ends on October 24.

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 presidency said the nominations were necessary to fill vacancies created by the expiration of the tenure of serving commissioners.

Tinubu urged the Senate to expedite the screening and confirmation process ahead of the general elections scheduled for January 2027.

“President Tinubu urged the Senate to expedite the nominees’ confirmation in view of the forthcoming General elections next January,” the statement added.