The Nigerian Senate has confirmed the appointment of five Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) following the adoption of a report by the Senate Committee on INEC during plenary on Wednesday, May 14.
The confirmed nominees are Umar Yusuf Garba, Sa’ad Umar Idris, Chukwuemeka Obeziako, Umar Mukhtar, and Johnson Alalibo Sinikiem. Their appointments were made in line with Section 154(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
Chairman of the INEC Committee, Senator Sharafadeen Alli (Oyo South), stated that all nominees met the required qualifications and standards for the role.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio commended the committee and fellow senators for their prompt handling of the confirmation process. He also praised President Bola Tinubu for submitting what he called “a strong list of candidates.”
“Let me thank my colleagues, especially the Committee on INEC, for a job well done. I congratulate the newly confirmed electoral commissioners,” Akpabio said. “I urge them to uphold fairness and equity, promote democracy, and ensure that every vote counts.”
He added, “These are square pegs in square holes. I pray that God grants them wisdom to deliver justice not only to politicians, but to every Nigerian voter.”
Each commissioner will serve a five-year term.
President Tinubu first submitted the nominations in a letter dated March 18, 2025. He later issued a revised letter to replace an earlier one sent on March 12, clarifying his decision to reappoint the commissioner from Borno State for a second term.