By John Moses
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to bolstering democratic institutions with the launch of a new annex building for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the capital, Abuja.
Speaking at the foundation laying ceremony on Tuesday, President Tinubu described INEC as the “backbone of Nigeria’s democracy,” emphasising the importance of strengthening its autonomy and operational capacity to ensure transparent and credible elections.
“This new facility stands as a testament to our resolve to equip INEC—not just with infrastructure, but with the necessary legal, policy, and institutional support to fulfil its constitutional mandate,” Tinubu said.
The annex, which will complement INEC’s current and now overstretched national headquarters, is designed to serve as a hub for electoral planning, training, innovation, and stakeholder engagement.
Tinubu acknowledged the efforts of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike, who initiated the project, calling it “a significant step in reinforcing Nigeria’s democratic foundations.”
INEC Chair Professor Mahmood Yakubu welcomed the development, stating that the existing headquarters, commissioned in 1997, was originally built to accommodate eight commissioners and around 500 staff. Since then, the commission’s activities have more than doubled, now employing over 1,000 staff and comprising 22 departments.
“With offices and meeting rooms stretched beyond capacity, we have been compelled to rent additional buildings just to function efficiently,” Yakubu noted. He praised the FCT administration’s consistent support, reminding critics that this marks the third time the FCT has constructed office buildings for the commission since 1991.
The new building, to be located on Plot 442 in Maitama District, will span 1.5 hectares and include a five-storey main structure, basement parking, an auditorium for 1,000 people, a museum of electoral history, library, and media centre.
FCT Minister Wike assured that the project would be completed before the end of his tenure, highlighting it as part of broader efforts to address public infrastructure needs across Abuja.
