2027: Atiku Raises Concern Over Printing Of Ballot Papers, Demands Names Of Printing Companies

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has raised concern over the contract for the printing of sensitive electoral materials and called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to disclose the companies responsible for printing these materials for the 2027 general elections. He warned that secrecy surrounding the contracts could undermine public confidence in the electoral process.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate also urged the commission to explain recent changes involving officials in key departments responsible for election operations and information technology.

The concerns were contained in a statement issued by his Director of Strategic Communication, Phrank Shaibu, on behalf of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council.

Reports indicated that Director Isa Magaji Gum had been redeployed from the Electoral Operations Department to the Voter Registry Department, while Mrs Oluyemi Titilayo Adeyemi-Showunmi was appointed to head Electoral Operations. Dr Lawrence Bayode was also identified as the head of the Information and Communication Technology department.

Atiku said INEC should explain the reasons for the changes, disclose the criteria used in making the decisions and demonstrate that the appointments and redeployments followed due process without political interference.

“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,” he said.

The former vice-president also asked INEC to confirm or deny reports that Hitech, or a company associated with it, had secured a contract to print sensitive materials for the 2027 elections.

He expressed concern over claims that more than half of the sensitive election materials, including presidential ballot materials, might have been allocated to an undisclosed company reportedly based in France.

Atiku also questioned reports that the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Plc was responsible for producing election materials for only 15 to 17 states, while private companies were handling materials for the remaining states.

He maintained that Nigerians deserved clear information about the companies producing ballot papers and result sheets, as well as the procedures used to award the contracts.

“Nigerians should not have to depend on unnamed sources to discover who is producing their ballots,” he said.

The ADC campaign council called on INEC to publish the names of all contractors, the allocation of contracts, the procurement procedures adopted and the security measures in place to protect sensitive election materials.

Atiku argued that any contract awarded to Hitech or a company linked to it would require clarification, citing publicly reported business relationships between the Chagoury family, which owns Hitech, and the family of President Bola Tinubu.

He also referenced controversies surrounding major projects awarded to Hitech under the Tinubu administration, including the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.

However, Atiku said INEC should publicly address the allegations if neither Hitech nor any company associated with it had been selected to print materials for the 2027 elections.

Beyond the electoral commission, Atiku called on the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to disclose allocations for banknote printing and clarify the roles played by local and foreign contractors.

He urged INEC to make greater use of the capacity of Nigerian security-printing companies and ensure that ballot papers and result sheets were properly secured and accounted for throughout the electoral process.

Atiku warned that any attempt to manipulate the 2027 elections would be challenged through voting, lawful civic action and other democratic means available to Nigerians.