By Joyce Ekeh
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 come ahead of Nigeria’s forthcoming general elections, with the President urging the Senate to expedite the confirmation process.
According to a statement by the presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu also reappointed Dr Bala Bila as the national commissioner representing the North-East geopolitical zone.
The new national commissioner nominees include Professor Mustapha Aliu, who is to replace Professor Abdullahi Zuru as the North-West representative, and Bashir Muhammed Umar, nominated to replace Professor Muhammad Adamu as the North-Central representative.
Tinubu also nominated Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola, the resident electoral commissioner in Osun State, as the national commissioner representing the South-West. She is expected to replace Professor Cornelius Ajayi, whose tenure expires on October 24.
The two nominees for resident electoral commissioner positions are retired permanent secretary, Dr Samuel Akinjide Akinleye, nominated to represent Ekiti State, and Zahradden Basiru Sanusi, from Jigawa State, who is to replace Professor Saidu Ahmed Babura.
The statement said the nominees would be subjected to Senate scrutiny and confirmation in line with the applicable procedures.
Tinubu urged the Senate to expedite consideration of the nominations, citing the need to fill the vacancies ahead of the forthcoming general elections scheduled for January next year, according to the statement.
The appointments and reappointment form part of efforts to fill vacancies in the electoral commission as existing tenures expire.
