Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) have called for greater transparency from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) regarding the production and custody of sensitive materials for the 2027 general election. Atiku, through the Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, Phrank Shaibu, requested that INEC disclose the companies engaged to print sensitive election materials, the procurement process, and security arrangements.
The ADC, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, also demanded clarification on recent personnel postings in INEC's strategic departments. The party alleged that redeployments may have favored officials from the South-West over personnel from other parts of the country. Atiku expressed concern over changes in the Electoral Operations, Voter Registry, and Information and Communication Technology departments, citing the need for open explanations and due process in appointments.
Atiku specifically asked INEC to confirm or deny whether Hitech or any associated company had been awarded a contract to print sensitive materials for the 2027 general election. He claimed that information suggested over half of INEC's sensitive election materials might have been allocated to a company based in France, whose identity and credentials had not been publicly disclosed.
The former Vice President also expressed concern over reports that the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Plc (NSPMC) might only handle printing for 15-17 states, while private printers handled the rest. He demanded that INEC confirm or deny these reports, publish the names of companies engaged, and provide details on procurement methods, security clearances, and production safeguards.
Atiku argued that awarding contracts to Hitech or an associated company would raise questions about INEC's neutrality due to reported business ties between the Chagoury family and President Bola Tinubu's family. He urged INEC to disclose contract details, including value, scope of work, and security arrangements, and allow meaningful scrutiny by political parties.
The ADC, in its separate statement, claimed to have intelligence and direct complaints about recent personnel changes and redeployments in INEC departments and stations. The party alleged that officers from the North were being moved and replaced by officials from Lagos and other South-West states, raising concerns about ethnic bias and neutrality.
The ADC urged INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, to publish details of affected postings, criteria used, and reasons for the changes. The party stressed that allegations of sectional bias undermining public confidence in INEC deserved a clear response, and that concentrating strategic operational appointments along ethnic lines could undermine election officials' neutrality.
Key points
- Atiku Abubakar and ADC demand transparency from INEC on election materials and personnel postings
- INEC's neutrality is questioned over alleged contract awards to Hitech or associated companies
- ADC alleges ethnic bias in recent INEC personnel postings and redeployments
