President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has officially initiated the groundbreaking for a new Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) national headquarters annex office complex located in Maitama, Abuja. During the ceremony, President Tinubu underscored that the event symbolized more than just physical construction; it represented the foundational strength of Nigeria’s democracy, the independence of its institutions, and the enduring future of electoral integrity. He firmly stated that INEC serves as the backbone of Nigeria’s democratic journey, asserting that its capacity to conduct free, fair, and credible elections is paramount to fostering public trust in governance and democratic processes.

President Tinubu affirmed his administration’s unwavering support for INEC’s autonomy, capacity, and growth, highlighting that the new headquarters would function as a central hub for innovation, strategic planning, training, and enhanced transparency in electoral administration. He commended the FCT Minister, Barrister Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, for his initiative in launching this significant project, recognizing it as a bold step towards safeguarding the nation’s democracy. Tinubu reiterated the commitment to equip INEC fully—not only with improved infrastructure but also with robust legal frameworks, policies, and resources—to enable the commission to fulfill its constitutional mandate with courage, fairness, and excellence.

INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, expressed profound gratitude to President Tinubu for his personal attendance at the event. He elaborated on the pressing need for the new facility, explaining that the current national headquarters, commissioned in 1997, has become severely congested. Originally designed to accommodate eight commission members and 500 staff, the headquarters now houses 13 full-time commission members (a Chairman and 12 National Commissioners), 22 Departments/Directorates, and a staff strength of 1,048. This overcrowding has strained all existing facilities, necessitating the rental of two additional buildings in Wuse Zone II to alleviate the situation. Yakubu also noted the historical involvement of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) in providing office accommodation for the electoral commission, citing previous instances in 1991 and the construction of the present headquarters.

FCT Minister Nyesom Wike clarified that the project’s approval came from the Federal Executive Council (FEC) in March 2025, not directly from the FCTA. Acting Executive Secretary of the FCDA, Mr. Richard Dauda, provided details on the new building, stating that it would occupy 1.5 hectares on Plot 442, Maitama District, along Zambezi Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Way. The comprehensive scope of work includes the construction of a five-storey building with basement parking, a media centre, a library, a museum dedicated to electoral history, various meeting rooms, a security control room, office accommodation for INEC management, key departments, a 1,000-seat auditorium, and advanced IT-based facilities such as the Election Monitoring and Support Centre. The museum is specifically intended to serve as a repository of Nigeria’s fiscal and digital electoral history, offering educational opportunities for citizens and students.

However, the FCDA’s involvement in constructing INEC's new office has drawn criticism from the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP). Chief Peter Ameh, National Secretary of CUPP and former National Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), condemned the arrangement, deeming it a direct assault on INEC's constitutional independence and a potential undermining of Nigeria’s democratic progress. He urged INEC to immediately halt the arrangement with the FCDA and independently fund and manage its headquarters construction through its direct line charge. Ameh also called upon the National Assembly to exercise its oversight powers to ensure INEC’s budget adequately covers its infrastructural and operational needs without reliance on external agencies, emphasizing the importance of staff welfare and protecting the electoral process ahead of the 2027 elections.

In a related development, INEC rejected the notification submitted by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for its proposed June 30 National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting. The commission stated that the notice did not comply with Part 2(12)3 of the Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties, 2022, which mandates that the National Chairman and National Secretary of a political party must jointly sign the notice of any convention, congress, conference, or meeting and submit it to the commission. The rejection, conveyed in a letter signed by the acting secretary to the commission, Haliru Aminu, implies that the planned NEC meeting may not proceed as scheduled, impacting discussions on the party’s substantive national secretary and the approval of the zoning committee report for the national convention slated for August 29 and 30.