Former Vice-President calls for transparency in election material contracts, staff redeployments and security arrangements ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to disclose the identities of companies contracted to print ballot papers and other sensitive materials for the 2027 general elections.
Atiku said transparency surrounding the production and distribution of electoral materials was essential to building public confidence in the electoral process. He warned that secrecy surrounding contract awards and reported changes in key INEC departments could raise concerns about the commission’s impartiality.
The former vice-president made the demands in a statement issued by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication for the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Presidential Campaign Council.
He urged INEC to publish details of the companies engaged to produce election materials, explain how the contracts were awarded and provide information about the security measures in place to protect the materials from production to delivery.
According to Atiku, Nigerians should not have to depend on unofficial reports to establish which companies are responsible for printing the documents that will determine the outcome of the elections.
Atiku Seeks Clarification on Hitech’s Alleged Involvement
Atiku specifically asked INEC to confirm or deny reports that Hitech, or a company associated with it, had secured a contract to print sensitive materials for the 2027 elections.
He expressed concern over claims that more than half of the sensitive election materials, including presidential ballot materials, might have been assigned to an unidentified company reportedly based in France.
The former vice-president also questioned reports suggesting that the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Plc (NSPMC) might be responsible for printing election materials for only 15 to 17 states, with private contractors handling the remaining assignments.
He called on INEC to provide a comprehensive breakdown of the contracts, including the names of the companies involved, the materials allocated to each contractor, the states covered and the procurement procedures followed.
Atiku further requested information about the contractors’ security clearances, production capabilities and arrangements for storing and transporting the materials.
He argued that such disclosures would enable Nigerians and political parties to scrutinise the process and assess whether adequate safeguards had been established.
Concerns Over Electoral Operations Department Redeployments
The former vice-president also raised questions about reported personnel changes within INEC’s Electoral Operations Department and other strategic units.
Reports cited in his statement indicated that Isa Magaji Gum, formerly the director of Electoral Operations, had been moved to the Voter Registry Department. Oluyemi Titilayo Adeyemi-Showunmi was reportedly appointed to lead Electoral Operations, while Dr Lawrence Bayode was identified as heading the Information and Communication Technology department.
Atiku urged the commission to explain the reasons for the changes and disclose the criteria used in making the appointments and redeployments.
He maintained that departments responsible for election operations and technology play crucial roles in organising elections and safeguarding the credibility of the results.
According to him, INEC should demonstrate that its personnel decisions followed established procedures, were based on merit and were free from political interference.
He said clear explanations would help address public concerns and prevent speculation about the commission’s preparations for the 2027 polls.
Atiku Questions Possible Links Between Contractors and Political Figures
Atiku also expressed concern about the possibility of Hitech or an affiliated company being awarded contracts for sensitive election materials.
He referred to publicly reported business connections between the Chagoury family, associated with Hitech, and the family of President Bola Tinubu.
According to Atiku, any contract involving Hitech or a related company would require sufficient transparency to reassure Nigerians that the electoral commission was acting independently.
He also referenced controversies surrounding major infrastructure contracts awarded to Hitech under the Tinubu administration, including the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project.
The former vice-president called on INEC to disclose the value, scope and procurement method of any contract awarded to the company or its affiliates, together with details of their technical capacity and security arrangements.
However, he stressed that the commission should clearly state whether Hitech or any associated company had actually been selected for the election-related work.
He said a definitive response would help resolve the uncertainty surrounding the reports.
Call for Greater Use of Nigeria’s Security Printing Capacity
Beyond the immediate concerns about ballot paper production, Atiku urged INEC to make greater use of qualified domestic security-printing facilities.
He argued that Nigeria should strengthen its local capacity to produce sensitive electoral materials rather than depend unnecessarily on foreign contractors.
He also called for a transparent chain of custody covering ballot papers, result sheets and other election documents to ensure that the materials remain secure throughout production, storage, transportation and distribution.
Atiku extended his concerns to the printing of higher-denomination banknotes by foreign companies, urging the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to disclose its printing allocations and clarify the respective roles of the NSPMC and any overseas contractors.
He maintained that greater transparency would help Nigerians understand how the country’s security-printing resources were being utilised.
ADC Promises to Monitor INEC’s Preparations
Atiku said the ADC would closely monitor INEC’s preparations for the 2027 general elections and draw the attention of domestic and international observers to any issues involving transparency.
He argued that public confidence in the electoral process would depend on verifiable information and clear accountability rather than general assurances.
The former vice-president also warned against electoral malpractice, insisting that Nigerians must be able to exercise their voting rights without interference.
He called for a credible electoral process in which the commission’s decisions, procurement procedures and handling of sensitive materials could withstand public scrutiny.
As preparations for the 2027 elections continue, the demand places renewed attention on the transparency of ballot production contracts, the management of sensitive electoral materials and the independence of the institutions responsible for conducting the polls.
The identities of the printing contractors, the details of the reported contract allocations and INEC’s response to Atiku’s allegations remain central to the issues he has asked the commission to clarify.
