Atiku Challenges INEC Over Appointment of Two Yoruba Officials Ahead of 2027 Elections

Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to explain the appointment of two officials to key departments ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Atiku urged the commission to disclose the criteria used in selecting the officials, stressing that Nigerians deserve transparency and accountability in the administration of elections.

His position was conveyed in a statement issued on Sunday by his spokesperson, Phrank Shaibu.

The former vice president questioned the appointment of Mrs Oluyemi Titilayo Adeyemi-Showunmi as head of INEC’s Electoral Operations and Voter Registry Department and Dr Lawrence Bayode as head of its Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Department.

Adeyemi-Showunmi reportedly replaced Magaji Gum, while Bayode is responsible for overseeing the commission’s ICT department. Both units play significant roles in the organisation and conduct of elections.

Reacting to the appointments, Atiku called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to refrain from interfering in INEC’s affairs, arguing that the commission must demonstrate its independence ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

He asked INEC to publish the criteria used to appoint Adeyemi-Showunmi and clarify the procedures followed in making the appointments.

According to Atiku, the responsibilities of the departments require the commission to provide clear explanations and assure the public that political considerations did not influence its decisions.

“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.

Atiku added that Nigerians would expect more than general assurances on issues relating to the credibility of the electoral process.

The ADC presidential candidate also raised concerns over reports concerning the production of election materials for the 2027 general elections.

He asked INEC to confirm or dismiss the reports and release information about the companies contracted to produce the materials, the states allocated to each company and the procurement processes involved.

He further requested details of the security clearances obtained by the contractors and the measures established to protect election materials during production, storage and transportation.

Atiku maintained that the public should have access to this information rather than rely on anonymous sources for details about the production of sensitive 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 stated.

He also warned against any attempt to manipulate the 2027 elections, saying Nigerians would resist such efforts through lawful and democratic means.

According to him, INEC officials must recognise the importance of their responsibilities and be prepared to account for their decisions and conduct.

Atiku’s latest remarks come days after the ADC Presidential Campaign Council called for greater transparency from INEC ahead of the nationwide collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

The council also cautioned the commission against taking decisions that could favour the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), maintaining that the credibility of the 2027 elections would depend on INEC’s ability to remain impartial.

Its position was outlined in a statement issued on Wednesday by its Director of Media and Publicity, Kola Ologbondiyan, following a World Press Conference addressed by INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan.

During the briefing, Amupitan announced that nationwide PVC collection would begin on October 9, following a voter registration exercise that recorded more than 10.7 million new registrations.

The INEC chairman also called for the removal of administrative bottlenecks affecting PVC distribution at the Local Government Area level to ensure that eligible voters were not prevented from participating in elections because of logistical challenges.

In its response, the ADC campaign council argued that the increase in voter registration figures would not translate into meaningful participation if registered voters were unable to obtain their PVCs before election day.

“Reading out figures of registration is nothing. What matters is the number of cards actually collected by Nigerians. What gives a citizen power on election day is not that his name is in a register somewhere, but that he has his PVC in his hand,” Ologbondiyan said.

The council also expressed concern over alleged bureaucratic delays and difficulties at PVC collection centres, particularly in areas it described as opposition strongholds.

It urged INEC to extend PVC collection to ward-level centres, increase collection hours and deploy technology to notify voters when their cards were ready for collection.

The campaign council further called on the commission to comply strictly with the Constitution and the Electoral Act throughout the electoral process, including voter registration, PVC distribution and the declaration of results.

Ologbondiyan urged INEC to operate independently of the ruling party and maintain its position as an impartial electoral umpire.

The council also warned that unequal distribution or delayed release of PVCs could weaken public confidence in the electoral process.

It argued that any situation in which voters in areas associated with the ruling party could collect their cards more easily than those in opposition areas would raise concerns about fairness and threaten confidence in the conduct of the 2027 general elections.