President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has nominated four new National Commissioners and two Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as part of moves to fill vacancies ahead of the 2027 general elections. The President has sent the names to the Senate for confirmation in line with Section 154(1) of the 1999 Constitution.
The National Commissioner nominees are Professor Mustapha Aliu (North-West, replacing Professor Abdullahi Zuru), Bashir Muhammed Umar (North-Central, replacing Professor Muhammad Adamu), Mrs. Oluwatoyin Babalola (South-West, currently REC in Osun, replacing Professor Cornelius Ajayi), and Dr. Bala Bila (North-East, reappointed for a second term). For the RECs, the President nominated Dr. Samuel Akinjide Akinleye for Ekiti State and Zahradden Basiru Sanusi for Jigawa State (replacing Professor Saidu Ahmed Babura).
The nominations come following the expiration of tenures of some serving officials in the electoral body, and are seen as a key step in strengthening INEC’s structure ahead of 2027. The Senate is expected to screen the nominees in the coming days, with the Presidency seeking swift approval to avoid gaps in the commission’s national and state leadership.
Why is INEC trending? Every INEC appointment in Nigeria sparks debate about neutrality and credibility. Nigerians on X are already scrutinizing the list, with past nominations having drawn criticism from CSOs and senior lawyers over alleged partisan ties. As 2027 approaches, all eyes are on whether these new commissioners will help deliver a more transparent electoral process.
