President Bola Tinubu on January 22, 2026, moved decisively to consolidate control over one of Nigeria’s most politically consequential institutions, sweeping aside the existing leadership of the Federal Character Commission and installing an entirely new board in a single ceremony at the State House, Abuja.
At the brief but pointed event, Tinubu personally swore in Hulayat Omidiran as Chairman of the Commission alongside 37 newly appointed commissioners representing the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. The action effectively dissolves the old FCC board and replaces it wholesale with a fresh lineup under the direct authority of the current administration.
The move is anything but routine. The Federal Character Commission sits at the heart of Nigeria’s power-sharing architecture, charged with enforcing constitutional provisions on equitable representation in federal appointments, recruitment, promotions and the distribution of public resources. Control of the FCC means influence over who gets in, who rises, and which regions feel represented—or sidelined—within the federal system.
By retaining none of the previous commissioners, Tinubu has sent an unmistakable signal: there will be no legacy holdovers, no gradual transition, and no ambiguity about who now sets the tone. The board has been reset from top to bottom.
Omidiran’s elevation to chairmanship, after Senate confirmation, is widely viewed as a strategic choice. She steps into a role that has long been dogged by allegations of politicisation, ethnic favouritism and quiet patronage. Her appointment, combined with the speed and completeness of the board’s replacement, reinforces the perception that the presidency intends to exert firm oversight over how “federal character” is interpreted and applied.
The timing is equally telling. The swearing-in comes amid a broader pattern of decisive appointments and reshuffles across federal agencies and parastatals, as the administration tightens its grip on institutions that shape access to power and resources ahead of the 2027 election cycle.
Reaction was immediate. Critics framed the development as a naked power grab, with opposition figures openly questioning whether the constitutional principle of balance has now been reduced to executive convenience. Supporters argue the opposite—that only a clean break could salvage an institution widely accused of inefficiency and compromise.
What cannot be disputed is the scale of the intervention. In one stroke, the presidency has brought the entire federal character machinery firmly into its orbit. The consequences will not be measured by today’s ceremony, but by future recruitment lists, appointment patterns and allocation decisions.
The FCC now belongs to a new era. Whether it delivers genuine equity or simply enforces loyalty dressed up as balance will soon become clear. Nigeria will be watching closely.
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