Muhammed Abubakar, Reporting
PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has nominated four new national commissioners and two resident electoral commissioners to fill vacancies at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), as the commission braces for the forthcoming General Elections in January.
The nominations, announced in a State House press release signed by Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, are subject to scrutiny by the Senate.
According to the release, President Tinubu reappointed Dr Bala Bila as the national commissioner representing the North East.
The newly nominated national commissioners are Professor Mustapha Aliu, who will take over from Professor Abdullahi Zuru as the North West representative, and Bashir Muhammed Umar, who replaces Professor Muhammad Adamu for the North Central zone.
The President also recommended Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola, currently the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Osun State, as the new national commissioner for the South West. She is to replace Professor Cornelius Ajayi, whose tenure expires on 24 October.
The two new Resident Electoral Commissioners are Dr Samuel Akinjide Akinleye, a retired permanent secretary, who will represent Ekiti State, and Zahradden Basiru Sanusi from Jigawa, who replaces Professor Saidu Ahmed Babura.
President Tinubu has urged the Senate to expedite the confirmation of the nominees in view of the General Elections scheduled for next January.
The nominations come at a critical time for the electoral body, which is expected to conclude preparations for the polls in the coming weeks.
