President Bola Tinubu has reappointed Dr Bala Bila as a National Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and nominated six other individuals for electoral positions ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The nominations cover four National Commissioner positions and two Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) positions. All nominees are subject to screening and confirmation by the Senate.
In a statement issued on Friday, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said the appointments became necessary following vacancies caused by the expiration of the tenures of serving officials.
Professor Mustapha Aliu has been nominated to replace Professor Abdullahi Zuru as the National Commissioner representing the North-West.
Bashir Muhammed Umar was nominated to replace Professor Muhammad Adamu as the North-Central representative, while Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola, the current Resident Electoral Commissioner in Osun State, has been nominated as the South-West National Commissioner.
Babalola is expected to succeed Professor Cornelius Ajayi, whose tenure expires on October 24.
For the Resident Electoral Commissioner positions, Tinubu nominated retired permanent secretary Dr Samuel Akinjide Akinleye to represent Ekiti State and Zahradden Basiru Sanusi from Jigawa State to fill the position currently held by Professor Saidu Ahmed Babura.
Onanuga said the nominations were made to fill vacancies arising from the expiration of the tenures of the affected officials.
The President has urged the Senate to expedite the confirmation process to ensure the vacancies are filled ahead of the general elections scheduled for January next year.
The nominees will assume their respective positions after completing the Senate screening and confirmation process.
