By Joy Yesufu
President Bola Tinubu has nominated six persons to fill vacancies at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and reappointed Dr Bala Bila as a National Commissioner ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The nominations comprise four National Commissioners and two Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs), with the nominees subject to screening and confirmation by the Senate.
The President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday, saying the nominations followed the expiration of the tenures of some serving officials.
According to the statement, Professor Mustapha Aliu has been nominated as National Commissioner representing the North-West, replacing Professor Abdullahi Zuru, while Bashir Muhammed Umar is to replace Professor Muhammad Adamu as the North-Central representative.
Tinubu also nominated Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola, the current Resident Electoral Commissioner in Osun State, as National Commissioner representing the South-West.
She is expected to succeed Professor Cornelius Ajayi, whose tenure expires on October 24.
Bila, who represents the North-East, has been reappointed as a National Commissioner.
For the Resident Electoral Commissioner positions, the President nominated retired permanent secretary Dr Samuel Akinjide Akinleye to serve in Ekiti State and Zahradden Basiru Sanusi, from Jigawa State, to replace Professor Saidu Ahmed Babura.
Tinubu urged the Senate to expedite the screening and confirmation process to ensure that the vacancies are filled ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The appointments form part of efforts to fill vacancies in the electoral commission as preparations continue for the next general election.
