President Bola Tinubu has nominated six persons for positions at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and reappointed Dr. Bala Bila as a national commissioner ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The nominations cover four national commissioner positions and two resident electoral commissioner (REC) positions. All nominees are subject to screening and confirmation by the Senate.

According to a statement issued on Friday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Prof. Mustapha Aliu has been nominated to replace Prof. Abdullahi Zuru as the national commissioner representing the North-West.

Bashir Muhammed Umar was nominated to replace Prof. Muhammad Adamu as the North-Central representative, while Oluwatoyin Babalola, the incumbent REC in Osun State, was nominated as the national commissioner representing the South-West.

Babalola is expected to succeed Prof. Cornelius Ajayi, whose tenure expires on October 24.

For the REC positions, Tinubu nominated retired permanent secretary Dr. Samuel Akinjide Akinleye to represent Ekiti State and Zahradden Basiru Sanusi from Jigawa State to replace Prof. Saidu Ahmed Babura.

Onanuga said the nominations were necessitated by vacancies arising from the expiration of the tenures of serving officials.

The President urged the Senate to expedite the confirmation process to ensure that the vacancies were filled ahead of the general elections scheduled for January next year.

The nominees will assume their positions subject to Senate screening and confirmation.