In a major move toward solving the long-standing Office Space Problem, President Bola Tinubu has performed the groundbreaking ceremony for the New Headquarters Annex building of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in Abuja.
Speaking at the ceremony, President Bola Tinubu reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to the electoral integrity of the country and declared that the new edifice would serve as a hub for innovation, planning, training, and transparency in electoral administration.
While emphasizing that Nigeria’s democracy is continuously evolving and demands a corresponding growth in the institutions responsible for its protection, the President pledged his administration’s full support to ensure INEC is adequately equipped with both infrastructure and the necessary legal frameworks, policies, and resources to execute its constitutional mandate with courage and excellence.
President Tinubu further lauded the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Chief Nyesom Wike, for initiating the project, describing it as another important step towards protecting the country’s democracy. In his address, INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for approving the project and attending the event in person.
He noted that the new building will help reduce the pressure on the current headquarters, which has become overcrowded over the years. “We are glad that the president found time to personally perform the groundbreaking ceremony of the INEC annex building. For a long time, the commission has faced serious challenges with space,” Yakubu said.
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According to the INEC Chairman, the current headquarters, which opened in December 1997, was designed for only eight commission members, 10 departments, and about 500 staff, but the commission has grown to accommodate 13 full-time members, 22 departments, and over 1,000 staff.
“This is a very special moment for me personally. After nearly 10 years of trying, the project is finally taking off,” he said. “Every part of the building is now overstretched — offices, meeting rooms, and spaces for important engagements. We even hold general staff meetings outside the office,” he explained.
Prof. Yakubu, while appreciating the Ministry of the Federal Capital Territory for stepping in to support the construction of the new annex, also acknowledged the support of the Federal Capital Development Authority when INEC moved its headquarters from Lagos to Abuja.
He added that the new annex will not replace the current headquarters but will serve as a support facility. The new annex building, now under construction, will include offices, meeting and conference rooms, a 1,000-seat auditorium, and IT facilities such as the election monitoring and support center.
It will also house a museum where Nigeria’s election history will be preserved, both in digital and physical formats.
