Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has questioned the appointment of two Yoruba officials to head key departments at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), raising concerns about the handling of the 2027 general elections.
Atiku, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, made his position known in a statement issued on Sunday by his spokesperson, Phrank Shaibu.
He demanded explanations for the appointments of Mrs Oluyemi Titilayo Adeyemi-Showunmi as head of the Electoral Operations and Voter Registry Department and Dr Lawrence Bayode as head of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Department.
Adeyemi-Showunmi reportedly replaced Magaji Gum, while Bayode heads the ICT department. Both departments play key roles in election management.
Atiku urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to stay out of INEC’s affairs and called on his administration to publish the criteria used to appoint Adeyemi-Showunmi.
He also warned that Nigerians would not accept a stolen election on January 16, 2027.
“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. Nigerians will not accept vague assurances on matters this serious,” he said.
Atiku further asked INEC to clarify reports about election material production by naming the companies involved, their assigned materials and states, procurement methods, security clearances and safeguards for production, storage and delivery.
He warned that any attempt to rig the 2027 polls would face resistance through voting, lawful civic action and other democratic means.
