President Bola Tinubu has nominated lawyer Saseyi Ibiyemi as the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Ondo State, according to a statement by presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga on Monday. If confirmed by the Senate, Ibiyemi, 58, will take over the position from ‘Niyi Ijalaye, a fellow lawyer and REC for Ogun State, who passed away in August.

Ibiyemi, who is from Ilaje in Ondo State, currently serves as the Administrative Secretary for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Lagos State. With a legal career spanning over three decades, she graduated from Obafemi Awolowo University in 1987 and was called to the bar in 1988. Furthering her expertise, Ibiyemi earned a master’s degree in Election Management from Bingham University in Nasarawa State.

In addition to Ibiyemi’s nomination, President Tinubu has named Abdulrazak Tukur as a National Commissioner for INEC, representing Nigeria’s North West zone. Tukur, 59, holds a Bachelor of Arts from Bayero University and advanced degrees from Bradford University and Leeds University in England. He began his career with INEC in 1999 and most recently served as Director of Electoral Operations and Logistics until December 2023.

Both nominees are expected to undergo Senate screening before they can assume their new roles within Nigeria’s electoral body.