President Tinubu Nominates Six INEC Officials, Reappoints Bala Bila
President Bola Tinubu has nominated six people for positions at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and reappointed Dr Bala Bila as a national commissioner, as the electoral body prepares for the 2027 general elections.
The nominations, announced by the Presidency on Friday, October 16, are intended to fill vacancies arising from the expiration of serving commissioners’ tenures. All nominees are subject to Senate screening and confirmation.
Professor Mustapha Aliu has been nominated to represent 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 the South-West national commissioner. She is expected to succeed Professor Cornelius Ajayi, whose tenure expires on October 24.
Bila was reappointed to represent the North-East.
For the Resident Electoral Commissioner positions, the President nominated retired permanent secretary Dr Samuel Akinjide Akinleye to represent Ekiti State and Zahradden Basiru Sanusi from Jigawa State to replace Professor Saidu Ahmed Babura.
The President urged the Senate to expedite the confirmation process, citing the need to fill the vacancies ahead of the forthcoming elections.
The nominations come as Nigeria prepares for the 2027 electoral cycle, with INEC’s timetable and preparations central to the process.
