The African Democratic Congress has raised concerns over alleged ethnic bias in recent personnel postings and redeployments by INEC, demanding an explanation from the electoral body ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The ADC alleged that some officers from northern states serving in sensitive departments, including Electoral Operations and Information and Communication Technology, had been transferred to other departments and replaced by officials from Lagos and other South-West states.
In a statement issued on Sunday by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC said it had received intelligence and direct complaints about the changes, warning that the pattern could raise questions about INEC’s neutrality if not properly explained.
The party, however, did not present the names of the affected officers or documentary evidence to substantiate its allegations in the statement.
“We have specific names of officers moved from Electoral Operations and ICT in a number of northern states and replaced with officers from Lagos and other South-West states. INEC may dismiss this as routine. But we have noticed a pattern, especially along ethnic lines, and we are concerned,” the statement reads.
The ADC said it was not yet accusing the commission of any nefarious motive but insisted that allegations capable of undermining public confidence in the electoral process should not be dismissed as routine administrative decisions.
“Regardless of the commission’s motives, questions about regional concentration in sensitive departments cannot be brushed aside as routine administrative matters,” the party said.
It added that any personnel arrangement suggesting ethnic or sectional preference in strategic operational positions could fuel suspicions that the electoral process was being tilted in favour of President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress..
The party urged INEC Chairman, Prof Joash Amupitan (SAN), to publish details of the recent postings, the criteria used in selecting officers for the positions and the reasons behind the changes.
According to the ADC, such disclosure would help reassure Nigerians across the country that electoral officials would perform their duties impartially, irrespective of their ethnic, linguistic or regional backgrounds.
The party warned that failure to address the allegations could have serious consequences for the credibility of the 2027 elections.
“Allowing such allegations to go without a serious, evidence-based rebuttal could have serious implications for the integrity of the elections,” it said.
The electoral body has fixed January 16, 2027, for the presidential and National Assembly elections and February 6, 2027, for the governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections.
The post 2027: ADC raises concerns over alleged ethnic bias in INEC postings, redeployments appeared first on Latest Nigeria News | Top Stories from Ripples Nigeria.