NEWS
President Tinubu Nominates Six New INEC Officials Ahead of 2027 Elections, Targets 40 Million Women’s Votes for APC
President Bola Tinubu has nominated six officials to fill vacancies at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as preparations intensify for the 2027 general elections, while simultaneously directing the All Progressives Congress (APC) women’s mobilisation structure to strengthen grassroots campaigns ahead of the crucial polls.
The nominations, which comprise four national commissioners and two resident electoral commissioners (RECs), were announced in a statement issued on Friday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga. The nominees are expected to undergo screening and confirmation by the Senate.
As the electoral commission prepares for the next general elections, Tinubu has also reappointed Dr Bala Bila as the national commissioner representing the North-East geopolitical zone.
Among the newly nominated national commissioners is Professor Mustapha Aliu, who is expected to replace Professor Abdullahi Zuru as the representative of the North-West. Bashir Muhammed Umar has also been nominated to replace Professor Muhammad Adamu as the national commissioner representing the North-Central zone.
For the South-West, the President nominated Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola, the current Resident Electoral Commissioner in Osun State, to succeed Professor Cornelius Ajayi, whose tenure is scheduled to expire on October 24, 2026.
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 expected to replace Professor Saidu Ahmed Babura.
Tinubu has urged the Senate to expedite the confirmation process, citing the importance of filling the vacancies ahead of the forthcoming general elections, which the report says are scheduled for January next year.
The appointments come at a critical period for INEC as it prepares to oversee electoral activities nationwide, with public attention increasingly focused on the commission’s readiness, institutional capacity and ability to conduct credible elections in 2027.
Beyond the electoral appointments, the President is also intensifying efforts to consolidate the APC’s political structures, particularly its women’s mobilisation network, as the ruling party begins laying the groundwork for its re-election campaign.
At the inauguration of the APC Presidential Campaign Council in Abuja, Tinubu directed the Director of Women Mobilisation, Dr Betta Edu, other members of the directorate and party leaders to deepen grassroots engagement and coordinate efforts to secure electoral support for the APC.
The President commended Nigerian women for their contributions to the country’s political development and the party’s previous electoral successes, highlighting their numerical strength, organisational capacity and influence within families and communities.
He emphasised the strategic importance of women in election campaigns, urging the mobilisation team to transform their support into a coordinated nationwide political movement capable of delivering victory for the APC in 2027.
The women’s mobilisation directorate has set an ambitious target of securing 40 million votes from women for the Tinubu-Shettima ticket. Its proposed strategy covers 176,846 communities, alongside political structures across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
To achieve the target, the campaign plans to strengthen ward-level organisation, household engagement, community outreach and polling-unit mobilisation, with an emphasis on reaching voters beyond major rallies and high-profile political gatherings.
The strategy reflects the APC’s intention to build a more extensive grassroots campaign network, relying on sustained contact with voters and the involvement of women leaders at the community level.
Preparations have also included activities spearheaded by First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, who has continued to engage women’s groups and stakeholders through empowerment initiatives and political outreach.
On October 5, a pre-inaugural Women’s Summit and Empowerment Programme was held in Abuja, bringing together women stakeholders from different parts of the country. The programme featured the distribution of livelihood-support items, including motorbikes and farm trucks, to beneficiaries.
Meanwhile, Edu has called on APC women to maintain unity, discipline and consistent engagement with voters as the party positions itself for the next general elections.
With the nomination of new INEC officials and the APC’s growing emphasis on grassroots mobilisation, the political atmosphere ahead of 2027 is beginning to take shape, with electoral administration and party campaign strategies emerging as major areas of focus.
While the INEC nominees await Senate confirmation, the APC is moving to strengthen its organisational structures and mobilise supporters nationwide in anticipation of what is expected to be a closely watched general election.