Tinubu sends four INEC national commissioner and two Resident Electoral Commissioner nominations to the Senate
16 October 2026
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu nominated new commissioners for the Independent National Electoral Commission to fill vacancies created by expiring tenures, in a State House statement issued on 16 October 2026 by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy. Professor Mustapha Aliu is nominated as national commissioner for the North West, replacing Professor Abdullahi Zuru. Bashir Muhammed Umar is nominated for the North Central, replacing Professor Muhammad Adamu. Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola, currently Resident Electoral Commissioner for Osun, is nominated as South West national commissioner in place of Professor Cornelius Ajayi, whose tenure expires on 24 October. Dr Bala Bila is reappointed as national commissioner for the North East. Dr Samuel Akinjide Akinleye, a retired permanent secretary, is nominated Resident Electoral Commissioner for Ekiti State, and Zahradden Basiru Sanusi from Jigawa replaces Professor Saidu Ahmed Babura. The statement said the Senate will scrutinise all the nominees and that the President urged it to expedite confirmation in view of the forthcoming general elections next January.
In plain words
INEC Independent National Electoral Commission — Nigeria's federal election management body, whose chairman and national commissioners are nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate.
REC Resident Electoral Commissioner — The INEC officer who heads the commission's work in a single Nigerian state.