President Bola Tinubu has officially kicked off construction on the new national headquarters of the Inde,pendent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja.
At the groundbreaking ceremony, he emphasized that the facility is more than brick and mortar it represents the resilience of Nigeria’s democracy, the independence of its institutions, and the future of electoral integrity.
The planned annex, designed by INEC’s technical team and to be built by the Federal Capital Development Authority, will feature offices, conference areas, IT infrastructure (including the Election Monitoring and Support Centre), a 1,000‑seat auditorium, and an on-site museum to preserve Nigeria’s electoral history.
FCT Minister Nyesom Wike assured the President that the project, approved by the Federal Executive Council in 2024, will be completed before Tinubu’s first term ends in 2027.
He reaffirmed the FCT Administration’s track record of providing INEC with facilities , this marks the third major office intervention in 34 years.
INEC Chairman Professor Mahmood Yakubu welcomed the development, citing severe overcrowding at the current headquarters. Originally built in 1997 for eight commissioners and 500 staff, the facility now supports 13 commissioners, 22 departments, and over 1,000 employees.He noted that the new annex will relieve congestion and complement the existing national headquarters.
Tinubu praised Wike’s initiative and in turn credited past and current INEC leadership for maintaining electoral credibility under difficult circumstances. He called on Nigerians to recognize that democracy is an ongoing journey, and this project is a step toward strengthening institutions and safeguarding the nation’s democratic future
