President Bola Tinubu has nominated four national commissioners and two resident electoral commissioners for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), urging the Senate to expedite their confirmation ahead of the general elections scheduled for January, according to a statement from the Presidency.
The nominations are intended to fill vacancies arising from the expiration of the tenures of serving officials. The Senate is expected to screen the six nominees before deciding on their confirmation.
The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, announced the development in a statement on Friday, adding that Tinubu had called for a speedy conclusion of the confirmation process because of the forthcoming elections.
Among the nominees for national commissioner positions is Prof. Mustapha Aliu, representing the North-West, who is nominated to replace Prof. Abdullahi Zuru.
Bashir Umar has been nominated for the North-Central zone to replace Prof. Muhammad Adamu, while Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola is the nominee for the South-West, replacing Prof. Cornelius Ajayi, whose tenure expires on October 24.
Babalola currently serves as the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Osun State. Her nomination would move her from a state-level electoral position to the national commission, subject to Senate confirmation.
The appointments are part of efforts to fill the vacancies in INEC’s leadership as the commission prepares for upcoming electoral activities.
Tinubu also nominated Dr Samuel Akinjide Akinleye, a retired permanent secretary, as Resident Electoral Commissioner for Ekiti State.
The other nominee, Zahradden Basiru Sanusi from Jigawa State, is expected to replace Prof. Saidu Ahmed Babura.
Both nominations will undergo Senate screening and confirmation in line with the process for appointing electoral commissioners.
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The President called on the Senate to fast-track the confirmation process, citing the approaching general elections in January.
“President Tinubu urged the Senate to expedite the nominees’ confirmation in view of the forthcoming General elections next January,” Onanuga said in the statement.
The Senate’s consideration of the nominees will determine whether they can assume their proposed positions. The appointments are expected to form part of INEC’s preparations for its upcoming electoral responsibilities.
