Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to explain recent appointments and staff redeployments in key departments ahead of the 2027 general elections, warning against any political interference in the electoral process.
Atiku, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, made the demand in a statement issued on Sunday by his spokesperson, Phrank Shaibu. He questioned the appointments of Mrs Oluyemi Titilayo Adeyemi-Showunmi as head of the Electoral Operations Department and Dr Lawrence Bayode as head of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Department.
The concerns centre on reported changes within the electoral body, including the reported replacement of Magaji Gum by Adeyemi-Showunmi in Electoral Operations. Atiku said the commission needed to explain the decisions and make the selection criteria public to assure Nigerians that the appointments were based on merit and followed due process. <Cite refs={[“turn497670search3″,”turn497670search11”]}/>
He also urged President Bola Tinubu to refrain from interfering in INEC’s affairs, insisting that the commission must demonstrate its independence as preparations for the 2027 elections continue.
“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. Nigerians will not accept vague assurances on matters this serious,” Atiku said.
Beyond the appointments, the former vice president called on INEC to clarify reports about the companies contracted to produce sensitive election materials, including ballot papers and other documents required for the polls.
He asked the commission to confirm or deny the reports and disclose the names of the companies involved, the materials allocated to each contractor, the states covered by the assignments and the procurement procedures followed.
Atiku also demanded details of security clearances and measures put in place to protect election materials during production, storage and delivery.
“These reports demand urgent and unequivocal answers. INEC must confirm or deny them and publish the names of every company engaged, the materials and states assigned to each, the procurement method, the security clearances obtained and the safeguards governing production, storage and delivery,” he said.
The ADC candidate argued that the public should not have to rely on unnamed sources for information about companies handling materials central to the conduct of the elections.
He further warned against attempts to manipulate the 2027 polls, saying any such move would be challenged through lawful and democratic means.
“Let there be no mistake: Nigerians will not accept a stolen election. Any attempt to rig the 2027 polls will be met with determined resistance through the ballot, lawful civic action, and every other democratic channel available to the people,” Atiku stated.
He added that INEC officials would be held accountable for their conduct during the electoral process.
The commission has yet to provide a response in the material cited above to the specific demands made by Atiku. His comments add to growing political scrutiny of INEC’s preparations for the next general elections, particularly its management of sensitive materials and personnel in departments responsible for election administration and technology.
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