Tinubu Reappoints Bala Bila, Nominates Six New INEC Officials

President Bola Tinubu has nominated four national commissioners and two Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) to fill vacancies at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The President has also reappointed Dr Bala Bila as the national commissioner representing the North-East.

The nominations were announced in a State House press release issued by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy.

According to the statement, the nominees will be screened by the Senate for confirmation, while Tinubu has urged the lawmakers to expedite the process in view of the forthcoming general elections scheduled for January 2027.

Among the newly nominated national commissioners is Professor Mustapha Aliu, who will replace Professor Abdullahi Zuru as the representative of the North-West.

Bashir Muhammed Umar has also been nominated to replace Professor Muhammad Adamu as the national commissioner representing the North-Central.

For the South-West, Tinubu nominated Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola, the current Resident Electoral Commissioner in Osun State, to replace Professor Cornelius Ajayi, whose tenure expires on October 24.

The President also nominated two new Resident Electoral Commissioners.

They are retired Permanent Secretary, Dr Samuel Akinjide Akinleye, who will represent Ekiti State, and Zahradden Basiru Sanusi from Jigawa State, who will replace Professor Saidu Ahmed Babura.

The nominations are part of efforts to fill vacancies arising from the expiration of the tenures of serving electoral commissioners.

The Senate is expected to scrutinise the nominees before deciding on their confirmation.

Tinubu’s call for expedited confirmation comes as INEC prepares for the 2027 general elections, with the commission responsible for organising and supervising elections across the country.