By Sarah NEGEDU
President Bola Tinubu has described the construction of the new annex headquarters for the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, as a vital step toward strengthening Nigeria’s democratic institutions and electoral credibility.
Speaking during the ground breaking ceremony on Tuesday, Tinubu said the project reflects his administration’s commitment to supporting INEC with the infrastructure, policy, and autonomy needed to deliver credible elections.
The president is optimistic that the edifice would stand not just as a building but as a pillar of electoral integrity and national trust, reinforcing the role of INEC in safeguarding the nation’s democracy.
“Today’s ceremony is not merely about bricks and mortar. It is about the strength of our democracy, the independence of our institutions, and the future of our electoral integrity,” he said.
The president paid tribute to the Commission’s central role in the democratic process, noting that, “INEC has been and remains the backbone of Nigeria’s democratic journey. Its role in conducting free, fair, and credible elections is central to the trust our people place in their government and in our democratic processes. For this reason, it is only right that such a pivotal institution is housed in a structure that reflects its dignity, responsibility, and national significance.
“This new headquarters is a clear signal of our unwavering support for INEC’s autonomy, capacity, and growth. It will provide not just a home, but a hub for innovation, planning, training, and transparency in electoral administration.
“Our democracy is still evolving, and as it grows, so too must the institutions that support and protect it. We are committed to ensuring that INEC is fully equipped — not only in infrastructure, but in law, policy, and resources — to carry out its constitutional mandate with courage, fairness, and excellence.”
Commissioned in 1997, the INEC headquarters building was originally designed to cater for eight commission members (a Chairman and seven full-time National Commissioners), ten Departments/Directorates and 500 staff. Since then, the staff strength at the headquarters has more than doubled.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, in his remarks said the Commission had long struggled with inadequate office accommodation, compelling the commission to rent two buildings in Wuse Zone II to ease congestion.
“Today, there are 13 full-time Commission members (a Chairman and 12 National Commissioners), 22 Departments/Directorates and 1,048 staff. Consequently, every facility is overstretched from offices to meeting rooms for the Commission’s 15 standing Committees and other activities, including regular engagements with stakeholders,” he said.
Yakubu added that the new annex would not only relieve the pressure on existing facilities but also include a 1,000-seat auditorium, IT hubs, and a museum to document Nigeria’s electoral history.
Going down memory lane, the chairman recalled that this is the third time in the last 34 years that the FCTA is stepping in to either provide office accommodation or alleviate the commission’s space constraint.
“Over the last ten years, we made every effort to alleviate the situation until sometime last year when the Ministry of the Federal Capital Territory came to the rescue. I wish to make it clear that this is not the first time that the Federal Capital Development Authority, FCDA, is constructing an office for the Electoral Commission.
“When the Commission relocated its headquarters from Lagos to Abuja in 1991, it was the FCDA that provided it with offices in Garki to accommodate the national headquarters as well as the FCT office. When the facility became overstretched, the FCDA again built our present headquarters. The building in Garki now operates exclusively as our FCT Office.”
FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, while commending the president for approving the project, clarified that although the FCT is supervising its execution, the contract itself was awarded by the Federal Executive Council.
“Your Excellency, let me correct an impression that this was awarded by the FCT. No. It was awarded by the Federal Executive Council in March 2025 and is being executed under the supervision of the FCT through the FCDA,” he said.
Wike further linked the project to the Tinubu administration’s broader infrastructure push for key federal institutions in Abuja, citing the ongoing renovations of the National Assembly complex and judiciary buildings.
He assured the president that the project would be delivered within his first term, pledging that the contractor would be closely monitored to ensure timely and quality delivery.
