By Ameh Gabriel
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Friday, May 30, 2025, officially swore in six new Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs), completing the lineup of RECs across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The ceremony, held at the INEC headquarters in Abuja, also featured the release of the timetable for the off-cycle governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun States, scheduled for 2026.
In his address, INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, welcomed guests and acknowledged the recent appointments of two National Commissioners Professor Sunday Nwambam Aja (South East) and Abdulrazak Tukur Yusuf (North West). He paid tribute to the late Major General Abubakar Modibbo Alkali (rtd), a former National Commissioner, describing him as a dedicated patriot. A moment of silence was observed in his honors, alongside other deceased INEC staff.
The new RECs sworn in are:
Dr. Sa’ad Umar Idris – Gombe State
Dr. Johnson Alalibo Sinikiem – Cross River
Mrs. Feyijimi Saseyi Ibiyemi – Ogun State
Mukhtar Umar Gajiram – Taraba State
Chukwuemeka Christopher Ibeziako – Abia State
Umar Yusuf Garba – Sokoto State
Professor Yakubu emphasized that the deployment aligns with INEC’s policy of posting RECs within their geopolitical zones but outside their states of origin. He revealed that additional administrative redeployments had been made, with updated details available on INEC’s official platforms.
Speaking on the upcoming elections, Professor Yakubu announced that the Ekiti State governorship election will be held on Saturday, June 20, 2026, with party primaries scheduled from October 20 to November 10, 2025. Final submission of nomination forms is due by 6:00 p.m. on December 22, 2025, while campaigns will run from January 21, 2026, until 24 hours before the election.
For Osun State, the governorship election is set for Saturday, August 8, 2026. Party primaries will occur between November 24 and December 15, 2025, with nomination forms to be uploaded by February 9, 2026. The final candidate list will be published on March 9, 2026, and campaigns will commence on March 11, 2026.
The Commission assured that the full schedule for both elections has been published on its website and social media pages.
Addressing broader electoral issues, Professor Yakubu acknowledged public concern about the pending Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) and 17 outstanding bye-elections. He assured that preparations are nearing completion, with further announcements expected soon.
Responding on behalf of the newly inducted RECs, Dr. Sa’ad Umar Idris expressed gratitude to INEC leadership and pledged unwavering commitment to transparent, credible, and lawful election management. He commended Professor Yakubu’s mentorship and reaffirmed the group’s dedication to enhancing voter education and deepening democratic participation across Nigeria.
The ceremony concluded with renewed pledges from both the Commission’s leadership and the new RECs to uphold Nigeria’s democratic values and strengthen the electoral process.
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