President Tinubu Nominates 4 New National Commissioners, 2 RECs Ahead of General Elections

ABUJA, NIGERIA — President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has nominated four new National Commissioners and two Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to fill vacancies left by officials whose tenures are expiring.

The nominations were announced in a State House press release on October 16, 2026, signed by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information & Strategy.

With Nigeria’s General Elections fast approaching next January, President Tinubu has urged the Nigerian Senate to expedite the screening and confirmation process for all nominees.

As part of the structural adjustments, President Tinubu also approved the reappointment of Dr. Bala Bila, who will continue to serve as the National Commissioner representing the North East region.

The newly nominated National Commissioners slated to replace outgoing officials include Professor Mustapha Aliu (North West), replacing Professor Abdullahi Zuru; Bashir Muhammed Umar (North Central), replacing Professor Muhammad Adamu; and Mrs. Oluwatoyin Babalola, the current Osun State REC, who has been elevated to serve as the new South West National Commissioner. She will replace Professor Cornelius Ajayi, whose tenure officially concludes on October 24, 2026.

The President also put forward two nominees to step into vacant Resident Electoral Commissioner roles. They are Dr. Samuel Akinjide Akinleye, a retired permanent secretary, nominated to represent Ekiti State and Zahradden Basiru Sanusi from Jigawa State, who is positioned to replace Professor Saidu Ahmed Babura.

The list of nominees has been forwarded to the Senate, where lawmakers will scrutinise the candidates before confirmation.