Atiku urges INEC to disclose ballot-printing firms and explain key staff redeployments

Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to disclose the companies contracted to print sensitive materials for the 2027 general elections.In a statement issued by his Director of Strategic Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku warned that secrecy around the contracts could undermine public confidence in the electoral process. He also called for explanations regarding recent redeployments of senior INEC officials in departments overseeing electoral operations and information technology.Reports indicate that Isa Magaji Gum was moved from the Electoral Operations Department to the Voter Registry, while Mrs. Oluyemi Titilayo Adeyemi-Showunmi now heads Electoral Operations. Dr. Lawrence Bayode continues to lead the ICT Department. Atiku insisted that INEC must demonstrate that these changes were merit-based and free from political influence.“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,” he said.Atiku further raised concerns over reports that a company linked to Hitech may have secured contracts to print presidential ballot papers, noting alleged business ties between the Chagoury family, owners of Hitech, and President Bola Tinubu. He argued that such connections could compromise INEC’s neutrality.He urged the commission to publish the names of all contractors, the materials assigned to them, procurement procedures, and security safeguards. Atiku also called on the Central Bank of Nigeria to clarify allocations for banknote printing and the roles of local and foreign firms.“Nigerians should not have to depend on unnamed sources to discover who is producing their ballots. Any attempt to manipulate the 2027 elections will be resisted through the ballot, lawful civic action, and other democratic means available to the people,” he declared.

Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has raised concerns over recent appointments within the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku criticized the selection of Mrs. Oluyemi Titilayo Adeyemi-Showunmi as head of the Electoral Operations and Voter Registry Department, and Dr. Lawrence Bayode as head of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Department. Both appointees are of Yoruba ethnicity, a move Atiku described as troubling given the sensitivity of the roles.Adeyemi-Showunmi reportedly replaced Magaji Gum, while Bayode continues to oversee ICT. Atiku insisted that these departments are central to election administration and demanded that INEC publish the criteria used in the appointments.He cautioned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu against interfering with the electoral body ahead of the 2027 presidential election, stressing that Nigerians would not tolerate a manipulated process.“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,” Atiku said.The former Vice President also called for transparency in the production of election materials, urging INEC to disclose the companies involved, their assigned responsibilities, and the safeguards in place to protect ballot integrity.Atiku warned that any attempt to rig the 2027 polls would be met with resistance through lawful civic action, emphasizing that Nigerians are determined to defend their democratic rights.

The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has raised concerns over the lack of transparency surrounding the production of sensitive materials for the 2027 general elections, urging the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to disclose the companies handling the printing. Atiku warned that keeping details of the contracts and the process […] Atiku urges INEC to disclose firms printing 2027 election materials

By Luminous Jannamike ABUJA – Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has challenged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to disclose who is printing sensitive materials for the 2027 elections, warning that opaque contracts and key departmental redeployments could undermine confidence in the polls. His central concern is that Nigerians could head into a decisive election without […] The post 2027: Atiku demands names of firms printing INEC’s ballot papers appeared first on Vanguard News.

Atiku urged INEC to explain key staff redeployments and disclose 2027 ballot-printing contracts, warning Nigerians will resist any attempt to rig the polls.

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 […] 2027: Atiku raises alarm over appointment of two Yorubas as INEC heads, warns Tinubu