Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to publicly identify the companies responsible for printing sensitive materials for the 2027 general elections, warning that secrecy surrounding procurement and internal staff changes could damage public confidence in the electoral process.
Atiku said Nigerians deserve clear answers about who will produce their ballot papers, how printing contracts are awarded and what measures are in place to prevent political interference ahead of the polls.
His position was conveyed in a statement by Phrank Shaibu, his Director of Strategic Communication, on behalf of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Presidential Campaign Council.
Atiku Questions INEC’s Departmental Reshuffle
The former vice-president sought clarification over reported changes involving senior officials in INEC’s Electoral Operations Department, which plays a central role in organising elections.
Reports indicate that Director Isa Magaji Gum was transferred from Electoral Operations to the Voter Registry Department, while Mrs Oluyemi Titilayo Adeyemi-Showunmi was appointed to lead Electoral Operations. Dr Lawrence Bayode was also identified as the head of Information and Communication Technology.
Atiku argued that such positions are crucial to election administration and called on the commission to explain the reasons for the changes, disclose the criteria used and demonstrate that the decisions were based on merit and due process, without 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, was based on merit and was free from political interference,” he said.
Hitech’s Alleged Role in Ballot Printing Under Scrutiny
Atiku also challenged INEC to confirm or deny reports that Hitech, or a company linked to it, had been awarded a contract to print sensitive election materials.
He raised concerns over allegations that more than half of the materials, including presidential ballot assets, may have been assigned to an unnamed company reportedly based in France.
The former presidential candidate also questioned reports that the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Plc was handling materials for only 15 to 17 states, with private contractors allegedly responsible for the remaining states.
He insisted that the commission should disclose the names of all companies involved, the quantities of materials assigned to each contractor, the procurement procedures followed and the security measures governing production.
“Nigerians should not have to depend on unnamed sources to discover who is producing their ballots,” Atiku said.
The allegations regarding the contractors and their allocations were presented as matters requiring clarification from the relevant authorities.
Tinubu Family Business Links Raise Further Questions
Atiku argued that any contract awarded to Hitech or an associated company would require particular scrutiny because of publicly reported business connections between the Chagoury family, which owns Hitech, and the family of President Bola Tinubu.
He also referred to controversies surrounding major infrastructure contracts awarded to Hitech under Tinubu’s administration, including the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway project.
However, Atiku maintained that INEC could remove uncertainty by making a clear public statement if neither Hitech nor any company associated with it had been selected to print 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.
Atiku Calls for Greater Transparency in Security Printing
Beyond INEC, the former vice-president urged the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to disclose the allocation of banknote-printing contracts and explain the responsibilities of local and foreign contractors.
He also called on INEC to make maximum use of Nigeria’s domestic security-printing capacity and establish a transparent chain of custody for every ballot paper and result sheet.
According to Atiku, publicly verifiable information about the production and handling of election materials is essential to protecting the integrity of the 2027 polls.
ADC Vows to Monitor Election Preparations
Atiku warned that Nigerians already struggling with economic hardship would not accept attempts to undermine their votes.
He insisted that the 2027 election must not be used to prolong the Tinubu administration’s stay in power through electoral manipulation.
“Let there be no mistake: Nigerians will not accept a stolen election. Any attempt to rig the 2027 polls will be met with determined resistance through the ballot, lawful civic action, and every other democratic channel available to the people,” he said.
He added that the ADC would closely monitor INEC’s preparations and draw the attention of domestic and international election observers to any perceived lack of transparency.
Atiku maintained that the commission must demonstrate its impartiality through clear, verifiable disclosures about its personnel decisions, procurement arrangements and the companies entrusted with producing sensitive election materials.
