 for the Independent National Electoral){kind=link}
The confirmed commissioners are expected to serve a non-renewable term of five years, in accordance with constitutional provisions.
The Senate has formally confirmed the appointment of five Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
This followed the adoption of the report presented by the Senate Committee on INEC during its plenary session held on Wednesday, 14 May 2025.
The individuals confirmed to serve as RECs are Umar Yusuf Garba, Sa’ad Umar Idris, Chukwuemeka Obeziako, Umar Mukhtar, and Johnson Alalibo Sinikiem. Their appointments were made pursuant to the provisions of Section 154(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).
The Senate Committee on INEC, chaired by Senator Sharafadeen Alli, who represents Oyo South Senatorial District, confirmed that all nominees satisfied the necessary legal and professional requirements for appointment to the Commission.
In his remarks, the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, commended members of the Committee and the Senate at large for their expeditious and diligent handling of the confirmation process. He also expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for nominating individuals he described as highly qualified and competent.
“I commend my distinguished colleagues, particularly the Committee on INEC and Electoral Matters, for the thorough job done. I extend my congratulations to the newly confirmed Resident Electoral Commissioners,” Akpabio stated.
He continued: “I urge them to approach their responsibilities with fairness, integrity, and a commitment to strengthening our democratic institutions. These are indeed square pegs in square holes, and I pray Almighty God grants them the wisdom to dispense justice not only to political stakeholders but also to the Nigerian electorate—ensuring that every vote counts and no citizen is disenfranchised.”
The confirmed commissioners are expected to serve a non-renewable term of five years, in accordance with constitutional provisions.
The nominations were initially communicated to the Senate by President Bola Tinubu via a letter dated 18 March 2025. In the letter, the President wrote:
“In compliance with the provisions of Section 154(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), I am pleased to forward, for confirmation by the Senate, the appointment of the following five (5) nominees as Resident Electoral Commissioners in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).”
He further clarified that the correspondence superseded an earlier submission dated 12 March 2025, due to his decision to approve the reappointment of the REC from Borno State for a second term.
With the confirmation now concluded, the appointees are expected to assume their responsibilities in line with INEC’s mandate to conduct free, fair, and credible elections across the country.