Atiku raised the concerns in a statement issued on Sunday by his spokesperson, Phrank Shaibu, demanding explanations from the electoral commission over the appointments of Mrs Oluyemi Titilayo Adeyemi-Showunmi and Dr Lawrence Bayode.
Adeyemi-Showunmi was reportedly appointed head of the Electoral Operations and Voter Registry Department, replacing Magaji Gum, while Bayode heads INEC’s Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Department.
Both departments play significant roles in election administration, including the organisation of electoral operations, management of voter records and the technological processes supporting elections.
Reacting to the appointments, Atiku urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to refrain from interfering in the activities of the electoral commission, insisting that INEC must demonstrate independence and impartiality in the build-up to the 2027 presidential election.
He argued that Nigerians deserved clear explanations about decisions involving key positions within the electoral body, particularly as preparations for the next general elections gather momentum.
According to the former vice president, INEC should disclose the criteria used in appointing Adeyemi-Showunmi and explain the process that led to her selection.
“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,” Atiku said.
He also called on the commission to clarify reports concerning the production of election materials for the 2027 polls, insisting that transparency was necessary to build public confidence in the electoral process.
Atiku asked INEC to confirm or deny the reports and publish the names of companies engaged to produce election materials, the materials assigned to each company, the states covered and the procurement procedures followed.
He further demanded details of security clearances and safeguards governing the production, storage and delivery of sensitive electoral materials.
“These reports demand urgent and unequivocal answers. INEC must confirm or deny them and publish the names of every company engaged, the materials and states assigned to each, the procurement method, the security clearances obtained and the safeguards governing production, storage and delivery. Nigerians should not have to depend on unnamed sources to discover who is producing their ballots,” he stated.
The ADC presidential candidate maintained that the integrity of the 2027 elections would depend significantly on the ability of INEC to demonstrate that its decisions and operations were free from partisan influence.
He warned that any attempt to manipulate the electoral process would attract strong opposition from Nigerians, while urging the commission’s officials to discharge their responsibilities in accordance with the law.
“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. INEC officials must understand that the country is watching and that they will be held accountable for their conduct,” Atiku said.
His comments come amid growing political attention on INEC’s preparations for the 2027 general elections, with opposition figures demanding greater transparency in the commission’s appointments, procurement processes and operational decisions.
However, the concerns expressed by Atiku remain calls for clarification and accountability; the statement does not establish that the appointments were made on ethnic grounds or that electoral manipulation has occurred.
As preparations continue, the commission faces the task of maintaining public confidence in its independence, ensuring transparent procedures and demonstrating that electoral decisions are guided by established rules and professional competence.
The credibility of the 2027 polls will depend not only on the conduct of voting and the collation of results but also on public trust in the institutions and processes responsible for organising the elections.
