President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has nominated four National Commissioners and two Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to fill vacancies resulting from the expiration of existing tenures.
​The official announcement was released on Friday, October 16, 2026, in a State House statement issued from the Presidential Villa in Abuja by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy.
​According to the official communication transmitted to the National Assembly, the President has requested the Nigerian Senate to screen and confirm several key nominations to replenish the leadership ranks of the electoral body.
​Among the candidates put forward for National Commissioner positions, Professor Mustapha Aliu has been nominated to represent the North-West geopolitical zone, where he is slated to succeed Professor Abdullahi Zuru. To represent the North-Central region, the presidency named Bashir Muhammed Umar as the replacement for Professor Muhammad Adamu.
​The South-West region will be represented by Mrs. Oluwatoyin Babalola, the current Resident Electoral Commissioner in Osun State, who is expected to replace Professor Cornelius Ajayi following the conclusion of his tenure on October 24. In addition, Dr. Bala Bila secured a reappointment as the National Commissioner representing the North-East geopolitical zone.
​For the Resident Electoral Commissioner positions, President Tinubu nominated retired Permanent Secretary Dr. Samuel Akinjide Akinleye to represent Ekiti State. Meanwhile, Zahradden Basiru Sanusi was nominated from Jigawa State to take over from Professor Saidu Ahmed Babura.
​Writing on behalf of the Executive arm, presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga stated that President Tinubu has urged the Senate leadership to expedite the screening and confirmation process.
The administration emphasized the importance of filling administrative leadership gaps promptly to maintain operational continuity and stability within the commission ahead of upcoming general elections.
