What Tinubu’s INEC announcement leaves unconfirmed about the nominees

President Bola Tinubu nominated four national commissioners and two resident electoral commissioners to fill vacancies at Nigeria’s electoral commission on October 16. The State House said the Senate would scrutinise the nominees; the announcement does not establish that they have been confirmed.

The State House named Professor Mustapha Aliu and Bashir Muhammed Umar among the proposed national commissioners, saying they would replace Professor Abdullahi Zuru and Professor Muhammad Adamu, respectively. It also recommended Oluwatoyin Babalola, described as the resident electoral commissioner in Osun, as the proposed South-West national commissioner. The State House said Babalola would replace Professor Cornelius Ajayi, whose tenure it said expires on October 24.

The announcement names three of the four proposed national commissioners. It does not provide, in the material available, a complete list of all four or establish the reported replacement and tenure details through underlying records. Babalola’s current role in Osun is also described by the State House but is not independently verified here.

The two named resident electoral commissioner nominees are Dr Samuel Akinjide Akinleye, described as a retired permanent secretary, and Zahradden Basiru Sanusi, from Jigawa. Tinubu also reappointed Dr Bala Bila as the North-East national commissioner, according to the State House.

These are proposed personnel changes at the body responsible for administering elections ahead of 2027, not confirmed appointments on the evidence available. Senate scrutiny is the next stated step, but no date or decision is provided. The announcement therefore identifies nominees and one reappointment while leaving the confirmation process—and some reported role changes—unsettled.