2027: Atiku demands names of firms printing INEC’s ballot papers
By Luminous Jannamike
ABUJA — Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to reveal the entities responsible for printing sensitive materials for the upcoming 2027 elections. He expressed concerns that undisclosed contracts and departmental reshuffles could potentially undermine public confidence in the electoral process.
Abubakar emphasized the need for transparency, stating that voters should not enter a pivotal election unaware of who is producing their ballots, the contracts’ origins, or the protections against political influence.
In a statement issued by Phrank Shaibu, the Director of Strategic Communication for the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Presidential Campaign Council, Abubakar raised questions regarding changes in INEC’s Electoral Operations Department. He highlighted allegations that a significant portion of sensitive election materials has been awarded to private contractors.
Reports indicate that INEC Director Isa Magaji Gum has been reassigned from Electoral Operations to the Voter Registry Department, with Oluyemi Titilayo Adeyemi-Showunmi appointed to lead Electoral Operations. Dr. Lawrence Bayode is also noted as the head of Information and Communication Technology.
“These departments are central to election administration. INEC must clarify these decisions, disclose the criteria used for these appointments, and demonstrate that each redeployment was carried out in accordance with due process, merit, and free from political bias,” Abubakar stated.
He also demanded that INEC confirm whether Hitech, or any of its affiliates, has secured a contract for printing sensitive election materials. Abubakar claimed that a substantial share of these materials, including presidential ballot papers, may have been allocated to a company believed to be located in France. He further questioned reports suggesting that the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Plc is only producing materials for 15 to 17 states, thereby leaving private firms to manage the rest.
“Nigerians should not have to rely on anonymous sources to learn about who is producing their ballots,” he said, demanding complete transparency regarding contractors, allocations, procurement methods, and security measures.
Abubakar raised concerns that any contract awarded to Hitech or related companies might jeopardize INEC’s impartiality, pointing to reported business connections between the Chagoury family, which owns Hitech, and the Tinubu family. He referenced ongoing controversies tied to Hitech under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, including the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project.
“If neither Hitech nor a related firm has been chosen, INEC must clarify this matter unequivocally to dispel any doubts,” he asserted.
Additionally, he urged the Central Bank of Nigeria to disclose its allocations for banknote production and detail the roles of both domestic and foreign contractors. Abubakar called on INEC to fully utilize Nigeria’s domestic security-printing capabilities to ensure that every ballot and result sheet is secured by a transparent custody chain.
He warned that the electorate, already facing significant economic challenges, would resist any efforts to manipulate their votes, emphasizing that the 2027 election must not be a vehicle for extending the Tinubu administration’s power.
“Nigerians will not accept a stolen election. Any attempt to rig the 2027 polls will face determined resistance through ballots, lawful civic actions, and every available democratic method,” he stated.
Abubakar added that the ADC would monitor INEC’s preparations closely, alerting both domestic and international observers to any signs of opacity, insisting that the commission must demonstrate its impartiality through verifiable disclosures.
