Former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar has demanded transparency from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over reported appointments and redeployments in key departments, as preparations gather momentum for the 2027 general elections.
Atiku, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, also called on the electoral commission to disclose the identities of companies contracted to produce sensitive election materials and explain the procurement processes involved.
He made the demands in a statement issued on Sunday by his spokesperson, Phrank Shaibu.
The former vice-president questioned the reported appointment of Oluyemi Titilayo Adeyemi-Showunmi as head of INEC’s Electoral Operations Department and Dr Lawrence Bayode as head of its Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Department.
He also sought clarification on the reported redeployment of Magaji Gum from the Electoral Operations Department, insisting that the commission should explain the reasons for the changes and demonstrate that due process was followed.
Atiku urged President Bola Tinubu to refrain from interfering in INEC’s affairs, stressing that the commission must protect its independence and reassure Nigerians of its commitment to credible elections.
He called on INEC to publish the criteria used in making the reported appointments and redeployments, arguing that decisions affecting critical election administration departments must be transparent and based on merit.
“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,” he said.
Beyond the reported changes, Atiku expressed concern over the identities of companies engaged to produce sensitive election materials ahead of the 2027 polls.
He urged INEC to disclose the names of the companies, the specific materials assigned to each contractor, the states covered by their contracts and the procurement procedures followed in awarding the jobs.
He also demanded details of the security clearances and safeguards put in place to protect the production, storage and transportation of the materials.
According to him, transparency in the procurement and handling of election materials is essential to strengthening public confidence in the electoral process.
“Nigerians should not have to depend on unnamed sources to discover who is producing their ballots,” he said.
Atiku’s demands come amid growing political attention on the preparations for the 2027 general elections, with the independence of INEC and the credibility of the electoral process expected to remain major issues in the build-up to the polls.
The ADC presidential candidate warned against any attempt to manipulate the 2027 elections, insisting that Nigerians would defend their democratic rights through voting, lawful civic action and other democratic means.
He maintained that public confidence in the electoral process depends on the commission’s willingness to provide clear answers about decisions that could affect election administration.
The former vice-president’s intervention places renewed focus on INEC’s institutional independence, the transparency of its internal decisions and the safeguards surrounding the production and handling of sensitive election materials.