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President Bola Tinubu has nominated four national commissioners and two Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to fill vacancies arising from the expiration of existing tenures.
The nominations were announced in a State House press release issued on Friday, by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy.
The nominees will be subjected to scrutiny and confirmation by the Senate.
Among the appointments, Professor Mustapha Aliu has been nominated to represent the North-West geopolitical zone, replacing Professor Abdullahi Zuru, while Bashir Muhammed Umar will represent the North-Central zone, succeeding Professor Muhammad Adamu.
President Tinubu also nominated Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola, the current Resident Electoral Commissioner in Osun State, as the new national commissioner representing the South-West. She is expected to replace Professor Cornelius Ajayi, whose tenure expires on October 24.
The President, however, reappointed Dr Bala Bila as the national commissioner representing the North-East geopolitical zone.
For the positions of Resident Electoral Commissioners, Tinubu nominated retired permanent secretary, Dr Samuel Akinjide Akinleye, to represent Ekiti State, and Zahradden Basiru Sanusi, from Jigawa State, to replace Professor Saidu Ahmed Babura.
According to the statement, the nominations are intended to fill vacancies created by the expiration of the tenures of serving commissioners.
The President urged the Senate to expedite the confirmation process in view of the forthcoming general elections scheduled for next January.
The nominations come as INEC continues preparations for the 2027 general elections, with the commission expected to oversee the conduct of the polls and ensure compliance with electoral laws.
The Senate's consideration and confirmation of the nominees will determine their formal assumption of office.
The appointments are expected to strengthen the commission's leadership structure as preparations intensify for the next general elections.
