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.
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