The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to prevent academics who have openly expressed support for political candidates from serving as Returning or Collation Officers in the 2027 general elections.
The party made the call following reports that more than 600 senior lecturers from public universities across Northern Nigeria had endorsed President Bola Tinubu for the 2027 presidential election.
Reacting to the development in a statement on Monday, ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said the endorsement raised concerns about the credibility of the electoral process and potential conflicts of interest.
The party noted that university lecturers and vice-chancellors had routinely been appointed to handle sensitive election duties, including the collation of results and declaration of winners.
“While acknowledging the constitutional right of every Nigerian, including academics, to support or endorse any political candidate, no person who has openly taken a partisan position should subsequently be entrusted with determining the outcome of an election involving that candidate.
“You cannot campaign for a candidate and then be entrusted with counting the votes and declaring winners in the same election that your candidate is contesting in.
“The party, therefore, called on INEC to establish and publish clear criteria, disqualifying academics and other prospective election officials who have publicly endorsed candidates, participated in partisan political activities, or otherwise demonstrated an obvious political affiliation,” Abdullahi stated.
The ADC also urged INEC to publish the names of proposed Returning and Collation Officers well ahead of the elections, allowing political parties and members of the public to identify and raise concerns about potential conflicts of interest.
“The integrity of an election does not begin when the first ballot is cast. It begins with the neutrality of the people entrusted to administer, collate, and declare its outcome.
“Nigerians must never be placed in a position where those who have publicly chosen a side are subsequently presented as neutral arbiters of the contest,” the party said.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
What do you think about this?
Drop your opinion in the comment section.
FOLLOW US & Share this with someone who needs to see this.
