Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has demanded transparency from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over reported staff redeployments in key departments and the production, printing and custody of sensitive election materials ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections. Atiku said the commission must publicly explain its personnel decisions and disclose the companies handling ballot papers and other sensitive materials to strengthen public confidence in the electoral process.
Key Highlights
- Atiku Abubakar demands explanations from INEC over reported staff redeployments ahead of the 2027 elections.
- The former vice-president seeks disclosure of contracts for printing ballot papers and other sensitive election materials.
- He asks INEC to confirm or deny reports linking Hitech or an associated company to election-material contracts.
- Atiku questions reports that the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Plc may be handling materials for only 15 to 17 states.
- The ADC presidential campaign council calls for the publication of contractors’ names, procurement procedures and security arrangements.
- The opposition has also raised concerns over alleged regional and ethnic considerations in strategic appointments.
- INEC’s detailed response to the specific allegations was not available in the reports cited.
Atiku Demands Explanation for INEC Staff Redeployments
In a statement issued on Sunday by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Presidential Campaign Council, Atiku questioned reported personnel changes in departments responsible for election administration.
The reports cited in the statement indicated that Director Isa Magaji Gum had been moved from Electoral Operations to the Voter Registry Department, while Mrs Oluyemi Titilayo Adeyemi-Showunmi was appointed to head Electoral Operations. Dr Lawrence Bayode was also identified as the head of Information and Communication Technology (ICT).
Atiku argued that the departments play critical roles in managing elections and that the reasons for the reported changes should be made public.
“These departments are at the heart of election administration. INEC must explain these decisions, publish the criteria applied and show that every appointment and redeployment followed due process, was based on merit and was free from political interference,” he said.
He added that Nigerians required clear, verifiable explanations rather than general assurances about the integrity of the electoral process.
Atiku Questions Contracts for Sensitive Election Materials
The former vice-president also called on INEC to clarify reports concerning the production and printing of sensitive materials for the 2027 general elections.
He specifically asked the commission to confirm or deny whether Hitech, or any company associated with it, had been awarded a contract to print materials for the polls.
According to Atiku, information available to him suggested that more than half of INEC’s sensitive election materials, including materials relating to presidential ballots, might have been allocated to a company whose identity and credentials had not been publicly disclosed and which was reportedly based in France.
These claims have not been independently established in the information provided, and the identity of any such contractor would need to be confirmed by INEC.
Atiku maintained that the public should be able to determine which companies are responsible for producing election materials and what safeguards are in place to protect their integrity.
NSPMC’s Reported Role in Ballot Printing Raises Questions
Atiku also expressed concern over reports that the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Plc (NSPMC) might be responsible for printing election materials for only 15 to 17 states, with the remaining work reportedly allocated to private printing companies.
He urged INEC to publish a comprehensive breakdown of the arrangements, including:
- The names and credentials of all companies awarded contracts.
- The specific materials assigned to each contractor.
- The states or electoral areas covered by each contract.
- The procurement methods used to select the contractors.
- The security clearances obtained by the companies.
- The safeguards governing production, storage, transportation and delivery.
“Nigerians should not have to depend on unnamed sources to discover who is producing their ballots,” Atiku said.
The disclosure, he argued, would allow the public to assess the transparency of the procurement process and the security measures protecting sensitive election materials.
Atiku Raises Concerns Over Hitech’s Reported Business Connections
The ADC campaign council’s statement also questioned the possible award of sensitive election-material contracts to Hitech or an associated company.
Atiku said any such arrangement would require scrutiny in light of publicly reported business connections between the Chagoury family, which has been linked to Hitech, and the family of President Bola Tinubu.
However, the existence of reported business connections does not by itself establish wrongdoing or prove that any procurement decision was influenced by political considerations.
Atiku’s demand centres on INEC providing verifiable information about the identity of contractors, the basis for their selection and the safeguards in place to protect the commission’s independence.
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ADC Questions Alleged Regional Imbalance in INEC Appointments
The ADC has separately called on INEC to clarify allegations of ethnic or regional considerations in staff postings.
According to the party, officers from northern states serving in strategic departments were allegedly being replaced by officers from the South-West.
The allegations have not been independently established in the information provided. INEC would need to clarify the reported personnel changes, the criteria applied and whether the decisions complied with its internal procedures.
The issue has added to opposition concerns about the commission’s internal arrangements ahead of the 2027 elections.
INEC’s 2027 Election Preparations Under Scrutiny
INEC has continued preparations for the 2027 general elections, including plans involving Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) devices, vehicles and logistics for more than 176,000 polling units, according to the reports cited.
The commission’s operational readiness will depend not only on equipment and logistics but also on public confidence in its personnel decisions, procurement processes and handling of sensitive election materials.
As of the latest reports referenced in the statement, INEC had not issued a detailed public response to the specific allegations raised by Atiku.
Transparency Debate Intensifies Ahead of 2027 Polls
Atiku’s demands have renewed attention on the processes through which election officials are appointed or redeployed and sensitive materials are produced, secured and distributed.
Publishing relevant contract details, procurement criteria and explanations for personnel changes could help address public questions, while any allegations of political interference or irregularities would require evidence and an official response.
With the 2027 general elections approaching, the dispute highlights the importance of transparent procedures, verifiable information and effective safeguards in maintaining confidence in Nigeria’s electoral system.
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