By Sandra Kenneth
Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) have challenged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to address growing concerns over the transparency of contract awards for sensitive election materials and recent key personnel redeployments ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The electoral body has scheduled January 16, 2027, for the presidential and National Assembly elections, followed by the governorship and state Houses of Assembly polls on February 6, 2027.
In a statement issued on Sunday by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, Atiku called on INEC to confirm or deny reports alleging that Hitech—or an entity associated with it—secured a contract to print sensitive materials for the upcoming polls. He noted potential conflicts of interest, citing publicly reported business ties between the Chagoury family, owners of Hitech, and the family of President Bola Tinubu.
Atiku further alleged that over half of INEC’s sensitive election materials, including presidential ballot papers, may have been allocated to an undisclosed firm based in France. He raised concerns over reports suggesting the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Plc (NSPMC) was assigned printing duties for only 15 to 17 states, with private contractors handling the rest.
“These reports demand urgent and unequivocal answers,” Atiku stated. “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 also urged the Central Bank of Nigeria to clarify foreign printing arrangements for higher-denomination banknotes and questioned recent administrative changes within INEC, including the redeployment of key officials in the Electoral Operations, ICT, and Voter Registry departments. While cautioning against assuming bias based on ethnicity or personal background, Atiku emphasized that public confidence requires verifiable disclosures and adherence to due process.
In a separate statement on Sunday, the ADC, through its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, alleged that officers from northern states serving in critical departments like Electoral Operations and ICT were transferred and replaced by officials from Lagos and the South-West region.
Although the party did not provide documentary proof or specific names in its statement, it warned that such a pattern could raise questions about INEC’s neutrality if left unexplained.
“Regardless of the commission’s motives, questions about regional concentration in sensitive departments cannot be brushed aside as routine administrative matters,” the ADC noted, urging INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN), to publish full details and criteria regarding the recent postings.
As political parties intensify preparations for the 2027 elections, pressure is mounting on the commission to provide clear public disclosures to safeguard the integrity of the electoral process.
