2027: Atiku Challenges INEC Over Secret Ballot Printing Deals, Demands Contractors’ Names

Toyyibat Qasim

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has challenged the Independent National Electoral Commission to disclose the identities of companies contracted to print sensitive materials for the 2027 general elections, warning that secrecy surrounding the contracts could undermine public confidence in the electoral process.

Atiku also demanded explanations for reported changes in key departments of the electoral commission, insisting that Nigerians deserve assurances that the management of sensitive election materials and the deployment of officials are free from political interference.

The former vice-president’s demands were contained in a statement issued by his Director of Strategic Communication, Phrank Shaibu, on behalf of the African Democratic Congress Presidential Campaign Council.

He expressed concern over reports that a substantial proportion of sensitive election materials, including materials relating to the presidential ballot, might have been allocated to private contractors whose identities had not been publicly disclosed.

Atiku asked INEC to publish the names of all companies involved, the volume of materials allocated to each contractor, the procurement procedures adopted and the security arrangements put in place to prevent the diversion, manipulation or unauthorised access to ballot papers and other electoral documents.

“Nigerians should not have to depend on unnamed sources to discover who is producing their ballots,” he said.

He specifically 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.

According to him, allegations that more than half of the materials might have been allocated to an undisclosed company believed to be based in France raised questions that required urgent clarification from the electoral body.

The former vice-president also questioned reports that the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Plc was printing election materials for only between 15 and 17 states, with private companies allegedly handling the remainder.

He urged INEC to explain the basis for the reported distribution of printing contracts and demonstrate that the process complied with established procurement rules and electoral security standards.

Atiku argued that the identities of contractors handling sensitive election materials should not remain undisclosed at a time when preparations for the 2027 polls are attracting growing public scrutiny.

The former vice-president further raised concerns over reported changes in INEC’s Electoral Operations Department.

Reports cited in the statement indicated that Isa Magaji Gum had been moved from the Electoral Operations Department to the Voter Registry Department, while Oluyemi Titilayo Adeyemi-Showunmi was appointed to head Electoral Operations. Lawrence Bayode was also identified as head of the commission’s Information and Communication Technology Department.

Atiku said the commission needed to explain the reasons for the changes, particularly because the departments play critical roles in election planning, voter administration and the deployment of technology.

“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,” he said.

He also argued that any confirmation of a contract involving Hitech or an associated company would require INEC to address questions about the commission’s impartiality, citing publicly reported business links between the Chagoury family, which owns Hitech, and the family of President Bola Tinubu.

Atiku also referenced controversies surrounding major infrastructure contracts awarded to Hitech under the Tinubu administration, including the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project.

He, however, called on INEC to put the matter beyond doubt by clearly stating whether the company or any related firm had been engaged to print sensitive election materials.

“If neither Hitech nor a company associated with it has been selected, INEC must say so clearly and put the matter beyond doubt,” he said.