By Sandra Kenneth
President Bola Tinubu has forwarded the names of four national commissioners and two resident electoral commissioners (RECs) to the Senate for confirmation, aiming to fill crucial vacancies arising from expiring tenures ahead of the upcoming general elections.
The appointments were announced in a statement issued on Friday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
The nominees slated for the position of National Commissioner represent strategic geopolitical changes:
Prof. Mustapha Aliu (North-West) — nominated to replace Prof. Abdullahi Zuru.
Bashir Umar (North-Central) — nominated to replace Prof. Muhammad Adamu.
Mrs. Oluwatoyin Babalola (South-West) — currently serving as the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Osun State, she is elevated to national commissioner to replace Prof. Cornelius Ajayi, whose tenure wraps up on October 24.
Meanwhile, the two nominees designated as Resident Electoral Commissioners are:
Dr. Samuel Akinjide Akinleye — a retired permanent secretary appointed to represent Ekiti State.
Zahradden Basiru Sanusi — from Jigawa State, appointed to succeed Prof. Saidu Ahmed Babura.
With the general elections fast approaching in January, President Tinubu has formally requested the upper legislative chamber to fast-track the screening and confirmation process.
“President Tinubu urged the Senate to expedite the nominees’ confirmation in view of the forthcoming general elections next January,” the statement emphasized.
The Senate is expected to commence the screening of the six nominees in the coming days to ensure full operational capacity at the electoral commission before the polls.
