By Jemimah Wellington, JKNewsMedia Reporter
AS CONSTRUCTION commenced on a long-anticipated facility for Nigeria’s electoral commission, President Bola Tinubu led the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarters extension in Abuja on 17 June 2025.
He described this as marking a critical step toward resolving the agency’s persistent office space challenges.
The new complex aims to ease the burden on the existing headquarters, which has become overstretched since its opening in 1997.
Originally built to accommodate eight commissioners, 10 departments, and roughly 500 personnel, the current facility now supports 13 full-time commission members, 22 departments, and over 1,000 staff.
Describing the situation as unsustainable, INEC Chairman Professor Mahmood Yakubu said the new annex is a crucial milestone in the commission’s institutional development.
“We are glad that the president found time to personally perform the groundbreaking ceremony,” he said, adding that the need for expanded facilities had grown urgent in recent years.
The commission has relied on rented office space in Wuse 2 to accommodate overflow staff, a temporary fix that underscored the demand for a permanent solution.
That opportunity came in 2024, when the Ministry of the Federal Capital Territory offered support, backed by the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), which has a history of assisting the commission, including the provision of initial Abuja office space in 1991 and construction of the current headquarters thereafter.
Now under construction, the annex will include modern offices, conference rooms, a 1,000-seat auditorium, and advanced IT infrastructure such as an election monitoring and support centre.
It will also feature a digital and physical museum designed to document Nigeria’s electoral history for educational and civic engagement purposes.
Yakubu clarified that the annex will not replace the existing headquarters but will serve as an essential support facility. “This is a very special moment for me personally.
After nearly 10 years of trying, the project is finally taking off,” he said.
He extended gratitude to President Tinubu, the Deputy Senate President, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the FCT Minister, members of the National Assembly, political party leaders, and other stakeholders whose backing brought the project to fruition.
He also said the new complex is expected to significantly improve INEC’s operational efficiency and working conditions, strengthening its capacity to conduct elections and as well enhance its service delivery to Nigerians nationwide.
