President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Tuesday restated his commitment to building stronger democratic institutions, as he flagged off the construction of a new annex to the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja.
At the groundbreaking ceremony, President Tinubu said the project represents a broader national vision to entrench democratic governance and enhance the credibility of Nigeria’s electoral process.
“This is not just about bricks and mortar. This new INEC building will be a hub for innovation, planning, training, and transparency,” the President said, as contained in a statement signed by Rabi Musa Umar, Assistant Director, Press, in the Office of the Minister of the FCT.
The project, which sits on a 1.5-hectare site in Abuja, will feature a five-storey complex with a media centre, library, museum, executive suites, and a 1,000-seat auditorium, among other modern facilities. It is expected to ease INEC’s current space constraints and improve its operational efficiency.
The President emphasized that his administration remains committed to supporting INEC not only through infrastructure but also through legal frameworks and adequate resources that enable the commission to deliver free, fair, and credible elections.
“We must strengthen the institutions that safeguard our democracy. We are here to build something that lasts—an electoral system our people can believe in,” Tinubu said.
He praised the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Barr. Nyesom Wike, for initiating the project and lauded INEC staff for their commitment to electoral integrity.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, expressed gratitude to the President and the FCT administration, noting that the new structure will relieve the pressure caused by space shortages at the commission’s current headquarters.
FCT Minister Wike, in his remarks, said the Federal Executive Council had approved the project in March 2025 and assured that the annex would be completed within Tinubu’s first term. “We will deliver quality work and ensure that this project justifies every naira spent,” he said.
Acting Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Engr. Richard Yunana Dauda, who gave a technical overview, stated that the project is part of efforts to align Abuja’s infrastructural growth with Nigeria’s democratic advancement.
The INEC annex project is widely seen as a tangible expression of the administration’s push for electoral reform and institutional renewal.
