Former vice-president demands transparency, warns against political interference in electoral body

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has questioned the appointment of two Yoruba officials to head key departments of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), calling for transparency in the management of the electoral body ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Atiku, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), raised the concerns 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.

Adeyemi-Showunmi was reportedly appointed head of the Electoral Operations and Voter Registry Department, replacing Magaji Gum, while Bayode heads INEC’s Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Department.

According to Atiku, the departments play critical roles in election administration, making transparency in appointments and redeployments essential to public confidence in the electoral process.

He called on the commission to publish the criteria used in selecting the officials and demonstrate that the appointments were based on merit, followed due process and were free from political interference.

Atiku also urged President Bola Tinubu to refrain from interfering in the activities of INEC, insisting that the 2027 presidential election must be free, fair and credible.

The former vice-president further raised concerns over reports about companies involved in producing election materials, asking INEC to disclose the names of the firms, the procurement procedures adopted and the safeguards governing the production, storage and delivery of the materials.

He said Nigerians deserved clear explanations from the electoral commission rather than having to rely on information from unnamed sources.

Atiku warned that any attempt to manipulate the 2027 elections would face resistance through lawful civic action and other democratic means, adding that electoral officials must be accountable for their conduct.

The concerns come amid growing political attention to preparations for the 2027 elections, with questions surrounding INEC’s appointments, procurement processes and institutional independence likely to remain central to public scrutiny.

INEC’s response to the specific concerns raised by Atiku was not included in the statement reproduced in the report.