Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has challenged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to disclose the companies contracted to produce sensitive materials for the 2027 general elections, warning that secrecy surrounding ballot printing and key personnel appointments could undermine public confidence in the polls.
The demand comes as the African Democratic Congress (ADC) raises concerns over alleged ethnic bias in recent personnel postings and redeployments within the electoral commission, calling for transparency ahead of the elections.
INEC has scheduled the presidential and National Assembly elections for January 16, 2027, while the governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections will hold on February 6, 2027.
In a statement issued on Sunday by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, Atiku asked INEC to confirm or deny reports that Hitech or a company associated with it had secured a contract to print sensitive materials for the elections.
The former vice-president said information available to him suggested that more than half of the commission’s sensitive election materials, including presidential ballot papers, might have been allocated to a company reportedly based in France, whose identity and credentials had not been publicly disclosed.
He also expressed concern over reports that the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Plc (NSPMC) might be responsible for printing election materials for only 15 to 17 states, with private companies handling the remaining assignments.
“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 said.
Atiku linked the concerns to broader questions about the independence of electoral institutions under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, arguing that a lack of transparency could fuel suspicions of political interference.
He specifically questioned the possibility of Hitech or an associated company being awarded a contract to produce sensitive election materials, citing publicly reported business ties between the Chagoury family, which owns Hitech, and the Tinubu family.
“The integrity of INEC in the forthcoming election will be seriously compromised if Hitech or a company associated with it is awarded a contract to produce sensitive election materials,” he said.
He urged INEC to disclose the identities of all companies handling the contracts, particularly if the printing was not being undertaken exclusively by NSPMC.
Atiku also advocated greater use of qualified domestic security-printing capacity, insisting that every ballot paper, result sheet and other sensitive election document should be covered by a transparent chain of custody.
Extending his concerns beyond election materials, he called on the Central Bank of Nigeria to disclose its current arrangements for printing higher-denomination banknotes and clarify the respective roles of NSPMC and any foreign contractors.
The former vice-president also raised concerns about recent personnel changes within INEC, particularly in departments responsible for election administration and technology.
According to the statement, Isa Magaji Gum was moved from the Electoral Operations Department to the Voter Registry Department, while Oluyemi Titilayo Adeyemi-Showunmi was appointed to head Electoral Operations. Dr Lawrence Bayode was identified as the head of Information and Communication Technology (ICT).
Atiku called on the commission to explain the circumstances surrounding the changes and demonstrate that the decisions were based on merit and due process, without political interference.
“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.
He, however, cautioned against assuming that any official was compromised because of their ethnicity, background or personal associations, stressing that legitimate concerns should be addressed through verifiable disclosures. Postings
Separately, the ADC alleged that some officers from northern states serving in sensitive departments, including Electoral Operations and ICT, 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 party said it had received intelligence and direct complaints about the changes.
It warned that the reported pattern could raise questions about the commission’s neutrality if the circumstances were not adequately explained.
The party did not, however, provide 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 read.
The ADC said it was not accusing the commission of having a 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 further warned 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 Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The party urged INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan (SAN), to publish details of the recent postings, the criteria used to select officers for the positions and the reasons behind the changes.
According to the ADC, such disclosures would help reassure Nigerians that electoral officials would carry out their duties impartially, irrespective of their ethnic, linguistic or regional backgrounds.
The party warned that failure to address the allegations could have serious implications 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 controversy comes as political parties intensify preparations for the 2027 general elections, with INEC facing growing demands to demonstrate transparency, impartiality and accountability in its administration of the polls.
