Tinubu nominates new INEC commissioners ahead of the general elections
Four national commissioners, one of them reappointed, and two state electoral commissioners now go to the Senate for confirmation.
Taiwo Banjoko
Abuja — President Bola Tinubu has nominated four national commissioners and two resident electoral commissioners for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and asked the Senate to confirm them quickly, Premium Times reports, publishing a statement from presidential adviser Bayo Onanuga.
National commissioners
- Mustapha Aliu (North West), replacing Abdullahi Zuru
- Bashir Muhammed Umar (North Central), replacing Muhammad Adamu
- Oluwatoyin Babalola (South West), now the electoral commissioner for Osun, replacing Cornelius Ajayi, whose tenure ends on 24 October
- Bala Bila (North East), reappointed
Resident electoral commissioners
- Samuel Akinleye, a retired permanent secretary, for Ekiti State
- Zahradden Sanusi for Jigawa State, replacing Saidu Babura
The nominations fill vacancies left by expiring terms. The president cited the coming general elections as his reason for asking the Senate to act fast; the Senate is expected to screen all the nominees.
Source: Premium Times, publishing a State House statement, 16 October 2026.
