The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, and former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has raised concerns over the appointment of two persons of Yoruba ethnicity to head two key departments of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Atiku disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday by his spokesperson, Phrank Shaibu, demanding explanations for the appointments of Mrs Oluyemi Titilayo Adeyemi-Showunmi and Dr Lawrence Bayode as heads of the Electoral Operations and Voter Registry Department, and the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Department, respectively.
This comes amid reports that Adeyemi-Showunmi was recently appointed to replace Magaji Gum, while Bayode serves as head of the ICT Department. Both are critical departments of the electoral body.
Reacting, Atiku said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu must keep his hands off the country’s electoral body ahead of the 2027 presidential election, insisting that the polls must be free and fair.
According to Atiku, the Tinubu administration should publish the criteria used for Adeyemi-Showunmi’s appointment.
He said Nigerian voters would not accept a stolen election on January 16, 2027.
“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.
Atiku also demanded clarification from INEC over reports concerning the production of election materials, calling on the commission to disclose details of the companies involved and the safeguards put in place.
“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. Nigerians should not have to depend on unnamed sources to discover who is producing their ballots.”
He warned against any attempt to manipulate the 2027 general elections, saying Nigerians would resist such moves through 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. INEC officials must understand that the country is watching and that they will be held accountable for their conduct,” he stated.
2027: Atiku raises alarm over appointment of two Yorubas as INEC heads, warns Tinubu