President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has nominated six individuals for appointment as commissioners of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), with their confirmation subject to Senate screening.
Among the nominees are retired Permanent Secretary Dr. Samuel Akinjide Akinleye, nominated to represent Ekiti State, and Zahradden Basiru Sanusi from Jigawa State, who is expected to replace Professor Saidu Ahmed Babura as Resident Electoral Commissioner.
STATEHOUSE PRESS RELEASE 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
The President has urged the Senate to expedite the screening and confirmation process in view of the approaching 2027 general elections.
The nominations form part of preparations ahead of the next electoral cycle, as attention increasingly focuses on INEC's leadership and readiness for the polls.