ABUJA — President Bola Tinubu has nominated four national commissioners and two resident electoral commissioners (RECs) for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), filling vacancies created by expiring tenures. The nominations were announced on Friday in a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga. All the nominees will be screened by the Senate. Dr Bala Bila was reappointed as national commissioner representing the North East. Prof. Mustapha Aliu was nominated for the North West to replace Prof. Abdullahi Zuru, while Bashir Muhammed Umar will replace Prof. Muhammad Adamu for the North Central. Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola, who currently serves as REC in Osun State, was nominated as national commissioner for the South West. She will take over from Prof. Cornelius Ajayi, whose tenure ends on October 24. For the state offices, Dr Samuel Akinjide Akinleye, a retired permanent secretary, was nominated as REC for Ekiti State, while Zahradden Basiru Sanusi was nominated for Jigawa State to replace Prof. Saidu Ahmed Babura. The President urged the Senate to treat the nominations quickly, citing the general elections scheduled for January next year. The appointments come at a sensitive time for the electoral body, which is completing preparations for the polls while political parties conclude their primaries and campaign structures. Filling the vacant seats on the commission's board ensures that INEC enters the election period with its full leadership in place. Once confirmed, the new commissioners are expected to take up their responsibilities immediately, with the incoming South West commissioner assuming office at the end of the current holder's tenure.