President Bola Tinubu has sworn in two new commissioners for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), marking a significant step towards strengthening the electoral body ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The newly appointed commissioners are:
- Mallam Tukur Abdulrazaq Yusuf: Representing the Northwest region
- Professor Sunday Nwambam Aja: Representing the Southeast region, specifically Ebonyi State
In addition to the INEC commissioners, President Tinubu also swore in two new members of the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB):
- Ikpeme Kenneth Ndem: From Cross River State
- Justice Buba Ibrahim Nyaure: From Taraba State
INEC’s Electoral Reform Efforts
INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu emphasized the commission’s commitment to electoral reforms, highlighting the submission of 142 recommendations to the National Assembly. Eight of these recommendations require constitutional or Electoral Act amendments, aiming to enhance the credibility and transparency of future elections.
Yakubu expressed satisfaction with the National Assembly’s response and pace of action, stating that the commission is working closely with lawmakers to ensure necessary amendments are made ahead of the 2027 general elections. The proposed reforms include
- Voter Management and Accreditation: Expanding the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) to accept computer-generated voter slips
- Electoral Technology and Result Transmission: Seeking legal clarity on manual versus electronic result transmission
- Special and Diaspora Voting: Proposals for early voting and diaspora voting
Next Steps
The National Assembly is expected to conduct a public hearing, followed by the submission of a new bill to the President for assent. Yakubu affirmed INEC’s commitment to improving the electoral process and deepening democracy in Nigeria.
