Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has raised concerns over the appointment of two Yoruba officials to head key departments of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Atiku made his position known in a statement issued on Sunday by his spokesperson, Phrank Shaibu, in which he called on the electoral commission to explain the appointments of Mrs Oluyemi Titilayo Adeyemi-Showunmi and Dr Lawrence Bayode.
Adeyemi-Showunmi was reportedly appointed to head the Electoral Operations and Voter Registry Department, replacing Magaji Gum, while Bayode heads the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Department. Both departments play important roles in the administration of elections.
Atiku urged President Bola Tinubu to refrain from interfering in INEC’s activities, insisting that the 2027 presidential election must be free, fair and credible.
He called on the commission to disclose the criteria used in appointing Adeyemi-Showunmi and demonstrate that the decision was based on merit, followed due process and was free from political interference.
The former vice president warned that Nigerians would not accept an election they considered manipulated, stressing the need for transparency in the management of the electoral process.
Atiku also demanded clarification from INEC over reports concerning the companies engaged to produce election materials ahead of the 2027 polls.
He urged the commission to confirm or deny the reports and publicly disclose the names of the companies involved, the materials assigned to each firm, the states they would serve, the procurement procedures adopted and the security measures governing production, storage and delivery.
According to him, Nigerians should have access to reliable information about the production of election materials rather than depend on reports from unnamed sources.
Atiku further warned against attempts to manipulate the forthcoming elections, saying any such move would be challenged through voting, lawful civic action and other democratic means.
He maintained that INEC officials would be held accountable for their conduct and urged the commission to address the concerns raised to strengthen public confidence in the electoral process.
