The 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 Senate Committee on INEC, Senator Sharafadeen Alli (Oyo South), stated that all nominees satisfied the required qualifications for the role.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio commended the committee for its prompt and thorough review and praised President Bola Tinubu for nominating what he called “a strong and credible list.”
“I congratulate the newly confirmed commissioners,” Akpabio said. “I urge them to uphold fairness and justice in their duties and to ensure that every Nigerian vote counts. These are square pegs in square holes, and I pray God grants them the wisdom to serve all Nigerians—not just politicians.”
Each commissioner will serve a five-year term.
President Tinubu had nominated the candidates in a letter to the Senate dated March 18, 2025. The letter, which superseded an earlier communication dated March 12, clarified his decision to reappoint the commissioner from Borno State for a second term.
