Tinubu appoints four INEC national commissioners and two RECs ahead of 2027 polls – THISAGE

President Bola Tinubu has appointed four national commissioners and two resident electoral commissioners (RECs) for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), as the electoral body prepares for the 2027 general elections.

The appointments are intended to fill vacancies created by the expiration of the terms of certain serving commissioners and are subject to screening and confirmation by the Senate.

Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, announced the appointments in a statement released by the State House on Friday.

According to the Presidency, Tinubu also reappointed Dr. Bala Bila as National Commissioner representing the North East.

Professor Mustapha Aliu has been appointed as a national commissioner representing the North West and is expected to replace Professor Abdullahi Zuru.

For North Central, Tinubu appointed Bashir Muhammed Umar to replace Professor Muhammad Adamu.

The President also recommended the elevation of Mrs. Oluwatoyin Babalola, currently Osun State Resident Electoral Commissioner, as National Commissioner representing the South West.

If confirmed by the Senate, Babalola will replace Professor Cornelius Ajayi, whose term expires on October 24, 2026.

At the state level, Tinubu appointed retired Permanent Secretary, Dr. Samuel Akinjide Akinleye, as the Resident Electoral Commissioner representing Ekiti State.

Zahradden Basiru Sanusi from Jigawa State has also been appointed as the Resident Electoral Commissioner to replace Professor Saidu Ahmed Babura.

“The Senate will review all nominees,” Onanuga said.

The President urged the Upper House of the National Assembly to speed up the confirmation process, citing the approaching general elections and the need to fill vacancies in the electoral commission.

The appointments come at a particularly crucial time for INEC, which is deepening preparations for the 2027 election cycle.

Political parties are also stepping up their preparations, with attention increasingly shifting to candidate selection, campaigns and other statutory processes ahead of the polls.

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