President Bola Tinubu has nominated five officials for positions at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and reappointed Dr Bala Bila as National Commissioner representing the North-East ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The nominations were announced on Friday, October 16, 2026, in a statement by Bayo Onanuga, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy. The vacancies arose from the expiration of serving officials’ tenures.
Tinubu nominated Professor Mustapha Aliu to succeed Professor Abdullahi Zuru as National Commissioner representing the North-West, while Bashir Muhammed Umar was selected to replace Professor Muhammad Adamu in the North-Central.
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Oluwatoyin Babalola, the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Osun State, was nominated for the South-West National Commissioner position. She is expected to replace Professor Cornelius Ajayi, whose tenure expires on October 24, 2026.
For the Resident Electoral Commissioner positions, the President nominated retired Permanent Secretary Dr Samuel Akinjide Akinleye for Ekiti State and Zahradden Basiru Sanusi of Jigawa State to succeed Professor Saidu Ahmed Babura.
Tinubu urged the Senate to expedite the nominees’ screening and confirmation. The appointments remain subject to the required approval.
The nominations come ahead of the 2027 general elections, with presidential and National Assembly polls scheduled for January 16 and governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections for February 6.