Atiku Urges INEC to Reveal Contractors Handling Sensitive Election Materials

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to disclose the companies contracted to print sensitive materials for the 2027 general elections, warning that a lack of transparency could undermine public confidence in the electoral process.

Atiku expressed concern over the reported redeployment of key officials within INEC and allegations that a significant proportion of sensitive election materials had been assigned to private contractors without adequate public disclosure.

In a statement issued by his Director of Strategic Communication, Phrank Shaibu, on behalf of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Presidential Campaign Council, the former vice-president demanded explanations for recent changes in the commission's Electoral Operations Department.

Reports indicate that Isa Magaji Gum was transferred 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 also identified as the head of Information and Communication Technology.

Atiku urged INEC to explain the reasons for the appointments and redeployments, publish the criteria used in making the decisions and demonstrate that the process was conducted fairly, transparently and without political interference.

He also challenged the commission to confirm or deny reports that Hitech, or a company associated with it, had secured a contract to print sensitive election materials for the 2027 polls.

According to the ADC presidential campaign council, allegations suggest that more than half of the sensitive election materials, including materials related to the presidential ballot, may have been allocated to an undisclosed company believed to be based in France.

Atiku further questioned reports that the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Plc had been assigned to print election materials for only 15 to 17 states, with private companies reportedly handling the remaining materials.

He insisted that Nigerians deserved to know which companies were responsible for producing their ballots, how the contracts were awarded and what security measures had been put in place to prevent electoral fraud.

The former vice-president argued that any contract awarded to Hitech or an affiliated company would raise questions about INEC's neutrality, citing publicly reported business relationships between the Chagoury family, which owns Hitech, and the family of President Bola Tinubu.

However, he maintained that INEC should publicly clarify the situation if neither Hitech nor any associated company had been selected for the contract.

Atiku also called on the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to disclose allocations for banknote printing and explain the roles of local and foreign contractors involved in the process.

He urged INEC to maximise the use of domestic security-printing facilities and establish a transparent chain of custody to protect every ballot paper and result sheet from production to the conclusion of the elections.

Atiku warned that Nigerians facing economic hardship would not tolerate any attempt to undermine their votes, insisting that the 2027 elections must not be manipulated to extend the Tinubu administration's stay in power.

He said any attempt to rig the elections would be resisted through voting, lawful civic action and other democratic means available to citizens.

The former vice-president added that the ADC would closely monitor INEC's preparations and alert domestic and international election observers to any perceived lack of transparency.

He maintained that the commission must demonstrate its impartiality through verifiable disclosures and credible electoral preparations ahead of the 2027 general elections.Note: The allegations concerning the companies involved in printing election materials have been attributed to Atiku and the ADC campaign council.

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