Isaac Samuel
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Tuesday, performed the ground-breaking ceremony for a new annex of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarters in Abuja.
The president described the project as a strategic investment in Nigeria’s democratic future.
Speaking at the event in Maitama District of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Tinubu said the project symbolises the nation’s commitment to electoral integrity and institutional growth.
The President praised the Commission’s role in sustaining democratic governance through credible elections, and assured that his administration would continue to support the Commission not just with infrastructure, but also with legal and policy reforms.
He also commended FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, for driving the initiative, which he described as another step in protecting democratic institutions.
The President said: “Today’s ceremony is not merely about brick and mortar, it is about the strength of our democracy, the independence of our institutions, and the future of our electoral integrity. 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 roles our people play in their government and in our democratic process. For this reason, it is only right that such a pivotal institution is housed in a structure that reflects the dignity, responsibility, and national significance of that institution. The new Headquarters is a clear signal of our unwavering support for INEC’s autonomy, capacity, and growth.
“It will provide not just a home, conducive, but a hub for innovation, planning, training, and transparency in electoral administration. Our democracy is still evolving, and as it is growing, 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-
Among those at the event were Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas; Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin; Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu; Minister of State for FCT, Mariya Mahmoud; INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu; party leaders and civil society actors.
Responding to public speculation, Wike clarified that the project was not initiated solely by the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), but was part of a larger batch of public infrastructure projects approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) in March 2025.
He pledged that the project would be completed before the end of Tinubu’s first term in office.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Yakubu, expressed appreciation to the Presidency and FCT Administration, noting that the new annex addresses long-standing challenges of inadequate space at the Commission’s current headquarters.
He disclosed that the present INEC building, commissioned in 1997, was designed for just eight commissioners, 10 departments, and 500 staff.
According to him, the Commission now operates with 13 commissioners, 22 departments, and over 1,000 staff, placing enormous strain on available infrastructure.
Yakubu said the new building would house not just office spaces and conference rooms, but also a 1,000-seat auditorium, high-capacity ICT hubs like the Election Monitoring and Support Centre (EMSC), and a national electoral museum a first-of-its-kind facility to preserve Nigeria’s electoral history.
He added that this was the third time since 1991 that FCDA had supported INEC’s infrastructure development.
According to him, the existing headquarters would remain the Commission’s main administrative centre, while the new annex would provide much-needed operational support.
