The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) has demanded the resignation of the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Dr Bisoye Coker-Odusote, over her appointment to the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council for the 2027 elections.
CITAD, in a statement issued on Saturday, specifically faulted Coker-Odusote’s appointment as Director of Data Management in the APC campaign council.
It described her simultaneous roles as a potential conflict of interest.
The organisation warned that her involvement in partisan political activities could raise questions about the neutrality of NIMC, which is responsible for managing Nigeria’s National Identity Database containing the personal and biometric information of millions of citizens.
According to CITAD, the sensitivity of NIMC’s mandate makes the political neutrality, confidentiality and integrity of its systems a matter of national security and public trust.
It expressed concern that the dual role could create an “appearance of compromised neutrality”, particularly ahead of the 2027 elections when political parties are expected to increasingly deploy personal data for voter engagement, political profiling, digital targeting and campaign communication.
CITAD argued that the head of an institution entrusted with the identity data of Nigerians across political affiliations should not simultaneously occupy a senior data-management position within a partisan presidential campaign.
The group, however, stressed that it was not alleging that NIMC data had been transferred to the APC or that Coker-Odusote had misused citizens’ personal information.
“We are not alleging that NIMC data has been transferred to the APC or that Dr. Coker-Odusote has misused citizens’ information,” CITAD said.
“Our concern is about the institutional conflict, perception of partisan influence and erosion of public confidence that this arrangement creates.”
The organisation questioned whether Coker-Odusote could retain the confidence of Nigerians in NIMC’s political neutrality while holding a senior data position in the campaign council of a political party.
CITAD described the situation as “untenable” and called on Coker-Odusote to immediately withdraw from the APC campaign council.
It said that if she chose to retain the partisan appointment, she should relinquish her position as NIMC Director-General.
Beyond the resignation demand, CITAD urged the Federal Government and relevant oversight bodies to establish safeguards to ensure that NIMC databases, infrastructure and personnel are not deployed for partisan political activities.
The organisation also called for stronger protection against political profiling, exploitation and unauthorised use of Nigerians’ personal data during the 2027 electoral cycle.
It urged political parties and candidates to commit to lawful, transparent and responsible handling of personal data as campaigning intensifies.
CITAD said its PAWSOM-Monitor initiative would continue monitoring potential data-protection and digital-rights violations ahead of the 2027 elections.
According to the organisation, the initiative was deployed to track possible misuse of personal data for electoral purposes and assess access by political actors to national digital infrastructure before, during and after elections.
CITAD said the initiative was piloted during the recent Osun State governorship election, adding that the alleged conflict involving Coker-Odusote was a key component of its election observation.
“The conflict of interest presented by the dual roles of Dr. Busoye sits at the centre of our election observation,” the statement partly read.
CITAD consequently reiterated its position that Coker-Odusote must either resign from the APC campaign council or relinquish her position as NIMC DG, arguing that the move would help protect the integrity of the national identity system and preserve public confidence in its political neutrality.
… NIMC DG Asked To Resign Over APC Campaign Council Appointment Read More on … NaijaOnPoint.
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