Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has questioned the reported appointment of two Yoruba officials to key INEC departments, urging the electoral commission to disclose its appointment criteria and provide details of companies involved in producing election materials ahead of the 2027 polls.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to explain recent appointments and staff changes in key departments, warning against any attempt to compromise the credibility of the 2027 general elections.
Atiku, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), made the demand in a statement issued on Sunday by his spokesperson, Phrank Shaibu.
He questioned the reported appointment of Mrs Oluyemi Titilayo Adeyemi-Showunmi to head the Electoral Operations Department and Dr Lawrence Bayode to lead the commission’s Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Department.
The concerns followed reports that Adeyemi-Showunmi had replaced Magaji Gum in Electoral Operations, while Bayode was serving as head of the ICT Department. Both departments play important roles in election administration.
Atiku called on President Bola Tinubu to refrain from interfering in the electoral body’s affairs, insisting that the 2027 elections must be free, fair and credible.
He specifically demanded that INEC publish the criteria used in appointing Adeyemi-Showunmi and clarify the process behind the reported changes.
“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.
The former vice president also warned against electoral malpractice, saying Nigerians would not accept an election they believed had been manipulated.
Beyond the appointments, Atiku called on INEC to clarify reports concerning the production of sensitive materials for the 2027 general elections.
He urged the commission to confirm or deny the reports and disclose the names of companies involved, the materials assigned to each contractor and the states covered by their respective contracts.
He also requested information on procurement procedures, security clearances and safeguards for the production, storage and delivery of election materials.
“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.
Atiku argued that Nigerians should not have to rely on anonymous sources to obtain information about the companies producing sensitive election materials.
Atiku maintained that the integrity of the 2027 elections depended on transparency and accountability within INEC, particularly in departments responsible for election operations and technology.
He warned that any attempt to manipulate the polls would attract resistance 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,” he said.
He added that INEC officials would be held accountable for their conduct during the electoral process.
The former vice president’s demands come as political parties and electoral stakeholders prepare for the 2027 general elections. INEC’s published calendar lists January 16, 2027, for the presidential and National Assembly elections.
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