2027 Elections: Atiku Demands Names of INEC Ballot Printers, Questions Secret Contracts

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has challenged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to disclose the identities of companies contracted to print ballot papers and other sensitive materials for the 2027 general elections, warning that secrecy surrounding the procurement process could undermine public confidence in the polls.

Atiku, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, also called on the electoral commission to explain reported changes in key departments responsible for election operations, voter registration and information technology.

The demands were contained in a statement issued on Sunday, October 11, by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication for the ADC Presidential Campaign Council.

Atiku urged INEC to publish the names of all companies engaged to produce sensitive election materials, the contracts awarded to them, the procurement procedures adopted and the security arrangements governing the production, storage and delivery of the materials.

He argued that Nigerians deserved verifiable information about the production of their ballots ahead of the 2027 elections, rather than having to rely on reports from unnamed sources.

The former vice-president specifically asked INEC to confirm or deny reports that Hitech, or a company associated with it, had secured a contract to print sensitive election materials.

He also raised concerns over claims that more than half of the materials, including those associated with the presidential ballot, might have been allocated to an undisclosed company reportedly based in France.

The claims have not been independently established in the reports reviewed, and the identity of the alleged foreign contractor remains unclear.

Atiku further questioned reports that the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Plc (NSPMC) was responsible for printing election materials for only between 15 and 17 states, with private companies allegedly handling materials for the remaining states.

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He called on INEC to clarify the distribution of printing contracts and explain the criteria used to select contractors.

According to him, the commission should disclose the volume and type of materials assigned to each company, the procurement method used, the security clearances obtained and the safeguards designed to prevent unauthorised access, diversion or manipulation.

Atiku maintained that transparency over the production and handling of ballot papers and result sheets was essential to building public confidence in the electoral process.

He also argued that any contract involving Hitech or a company associated with it would require clear explanations from the electoral commission.

The former vice-president cited publicly reported business connections between the Chagoury family, which owns Hitech, and the family of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He also referred to controversies surrounding major infrastructure contracts awarded to Hitech under Tinubu’s administration, including the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project.

However, the reported business connections do not establish that Hitech has received an INEC ballot-printing contract or that any electoral contract would be improperly awarded.

Atiku urged INEC to address the allegations directly, saying the commission should clearly state whether Hitech or any associated company had been selected to produce sensitive election materials.

He also called on the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to disclose its banknote-printing arrangements and clarify the respective roles of domestic and foreign contractors involved in producing higher-denomination banknotes.

Beyond the printing contracts, Atiku questioned reported personnel changes in INEC’s departments responsible for electoral operations, voter registration and information technology.

According to the statement, Isa Magaji Gum was moved from the Electoral Operations Department to the Voter Registry Department, while Oluyemi Titilayo Adeyemi-Showunmi was appointed to head Electoral Operations. Lawrence Bayode was also identified as head of the commission’s Information and Communication Technology Department.

Atiku called on INEC to explain the reasons for the changes and publish the criteria used in making the appointments and redeployments.

He argued that the departments play central roles in election planning, voter administration and the deployment of technology, making transparency in their leadership important ahead of the polls.

The concerns come as political parties and other stakeholders intensify scrutiny of preparations for the 2027 general elections, with electoral logistics, the handling of sensitive materials and the independence of election officials likely to remain key issues in the run-up to voting.

INEC’s procurement and security procedures are particularly important because ballot papers, result sheets and other sensitive documents must be accounted for throughout production, storage, transportation and distribution.

Atiku urged the commission to maximise the capacity of qualified Nigerian security-printing companies while ensuring that all contractors, whether domestic or foreign, meet the necessary standards for security, quality and accountability.

He also said the ADC would monitor the commission’s preparations and bring concerns about transparency to the attention of domestic and international election observers.

The former vice-president warned against attempts to manipulate the elections, saying his party would pursue lawful democratic and civic channels to defend the integrity of the process.

The central demand from Atiku is for INEC to provide verifiable details about who is producing sensitive election materials, how the contracts were awarded and what safeguards are in place to protect the materials from unauthorised access or interference.

Whether the commission will publicly disclose the requested details, and how it will address the concerns over staff redeployments, remain important questions as preparations for the 2027 elections continue.