Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to make public the corporate identities of all firms contracted to produce sensitive election materials ahead of the 2027 general election. The call came amid claims of potential political interference and questions surrounding transparency in the commission's early arrangements.
Phrank Shaibu, who serves as Director of Strategic Communication for Atiku, presented the position on behalf of the African Democratic Congress presidential campaign council. The statement tackled several operational aspects of the election umpire, ranging from the award of printing contracts to recent reshuffles among senior personnel within the commission.
For general elections in Nigeria, logistics and procurement always draw heavy public scrutiny. When the country goes to the polls, millions of voters look to INEC to provide tamper-proof ballot papers, secure result sheets, and accredited tools without bias. Any perception that the printing of these vital voting tools is shrouded in secrecy usually triggers friction between political parties and election managers.
Questions over contract awards
Atiku specifically pressed INEC to clarify whether a firm named Hitech, or any corporate entity tied to it, had obtained an agreement to manufacture these critical documents. He suggested that over 50 percent of the voting consignments, particularly items meant for the presidential contest, might have been handed to an unnamed foreign enterprise thought to be located in France. These assertions have not been verified independently.
Beyond foreign allocations, the former vice-president drew attention to the domestic share of the work. He questioned information indicating that the state-owned Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Plc was assigned to print election documents for only 15 to 17 states. Under that scenario, private business outfits would take charge of the leftover states across the federation.
To dispel suspicion, Atiku insisted that the electoral body must place all contract awards in full public view. He said the commission should openly publish contractor identities, the exact distribution of the work, the procurement guidelines followed, and the protective measures put in place for delivery.
Atiku said, "Nigerians should not have to depend on unnamed sources to discover who is producing their ballots."
Public confidence in electoral outcomes frequently hinges on such procedural disclosures. In typical procurement cycles, government institutions face statutory obligations to maintain fairness and show value for money. When political actors raise alarms early, it places the burden on regulators to demonstrate neutrality well before balloting begins.
Internal redeployments and monetary agency
The former vice-president also focused on recent administrative shifts inside INEC's Electoral Operations Department. He pointed directly to the reassignment of Isa Magaji Gum, who reportedly moved from that sensitive operational arm to the Voter Registry Department. In the same breath, he noted the posting of Oluyemi Titilayo Adeyemi-Showunmi to lead the Electoral Operations division.
According to Atiku, the commission must offer clear justifications for these reassignments. He challenged the leadership to prove that both its administrative appointments and contract distributions strictly followed due process rather than subterranean political instructions. The credibility of electoral logistics depends on the independence of desk officers who handle sensitive deployment schedules across the country.
The scrutiny did not stop with the election umpire alone. Atiku broadened his inquiry to include the Central Bank of Nigeria, demanding that the apex monetary authority disclose how banknote printing jobs are divided. He maintained that the central bank needs to explain the respective responsibilities given to local printing establishments versus overseas contractors.
Printing contracts, whether for legal tender or voting ballots, involve massive spending and national security safeguards. Nigerians routinely debate the involvement of external firms in core state functions, especially when domestic facilities like the federal mint possess substantial operational history.
Shaibu emphasised that the ADC campaign setup will keep a close eye on every preparatory step taken by the commission. He cautioned that political figures must not attempt to manipulate the upcoming 2027 polls through administrative shortcuts or skewed contract awards.
As of the time of the statement, INEC had not offered an official reply to the queries raised regarding its printing contracts or internal staff redeployments.
