Tinubu flags off construction of new INEC National Headquarters.

Tinubu flags off construction of new INEC National Headquarters.

…promises boost to electoral integrity….

By Abdullahi Muhammad

Abuja

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has Tuesday flagged off a new national headquarters building for Nigeria's Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja a project that aims to enhance the Commission’s operational capacity and reinforce public trust in the country’s democratic institutions.

Tinubu who performed the groundbreaking at Zambezi Crescent site Tuesday in Abuja, stated that the event “not merely about bricks and mortar,” but rather “about the strength of our democracy, the independence of our institutions, and the future of our electoral integrity.”

INEC, which has long struggled with the limitations of an overstretched and outdated headquarters, is set to receive a modern annex equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, including a 1,000-seat auditorium, advanced IT infrastructure, and, for the first time, a museum chronicling Nigeria’s electoral history.

“This new headquarters is a clear signal of our unwavering support for INEC’s autonomy, capacity, and growth,” Tinubu affirmed. “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.”

The new complex is being constructed by the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), under the supervision of the FCT Minister, Barr Nyesom Wike, who received direct praise from the President. “ Wike who has taken another bold step in ensuring the protection of our democracy by initiating this laudable project. I salute his courage,” Tinubu stated.

The project comes after over ten years of sustained appeals by INEC for more space. The Commission’s current headquarters, commissioned in 1997, was originally designed to house just 500 staff and eight commission members. Today, the body accommodates over 1,000 personnel, 13 full-time commissioners, and 22 departments.

Speaking at the event, INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, described the new project as “a special occasion,” and a milestone in INEC’s institutional evolution.

“Our present national headquarters is severely congested,” Yakubu noted. “We were compelled to rent two additional buildings in Wuse Zone II to ease the situation. The completion of this annex will not only provide needed relief but enable the Commission to function more effectively.”

He explained that the annex would serve as a complement to the current headquarters rather than a replacement. “When completed, the new building will complement the main building. For me personally, after almost ten years of persistent effort, this is finally a reality.”


The FCT Minister traced the historical interventions of the FCDA in INEC’s accommodation challenges, noting that this is the third time in 34 years the development agency is providing office space for the electoral commission. He reaffirmed the administration's commitment to strengthening electoral governance through infrastructure.

“Our present National Headquarters is severely congested. General staff meetings take place outside the Commission. The new annex, with provisions for training rooms, offices, an election monitoring centre and a digital museum, reflects our ambition for a stronger, more accessible Commission,” Wike said.

He added that the museum would allow Nigerian citizens, particularly students, to “appreciate the evolution of our electoral history, as is the case in major jurisdictions around the world.”


As the groundbreaking proceeded, President Tinubu also directed a message to contractors and project stakeholders, urging them to adhere strictly to the principles of “quality, speed, and integrity.”

“You are not just building a headquarters — you are building trust in our nation,” he stressed.

To the wider Nigerian public, the President delivered a call to civic duty: “Democracy is not a destination but a journey. Together, let us strengthen our institutions, safeguard our freedoms, and protect the future.”