2027: Bar partisan lecturers from conducting elections – ADC tells INEC

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to prevent university lecturers with known partisan affiliations from serving as returning or collation officers during the 2027 general elections.

The party made the demand in a statement issued on Monday by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, following reports that more than 600 senior lecturers from public universities in northern Nigeria had openly endorsed President Bola Tinubu’s bid for re-election.

The ADC said the reported endorsements had raised concerns about the impartiality of university academics who are routinely engaged by INEC as election officials.

Partisan academics and election credibility

According to the party, appointing lecturers who have publicly declared support for political candidates could undermine confidence in the electoral process and create potential conflicts of interest.

The ADC noted that university lecturers and vice-chancellors often play important roles as returning and collation officers, including responsibilities connected with the collation and announcement of election results.

The party, however, acknowledged that university academics, like other Nigerian citizens, have a constitutional right to support or endorse candidates of their choice.

It argued that such individuals should nevertheless be excluded from handling the collation or announcement of results in elections where their preferred candidates are participating.

“It would be inappropriate for someone who has campaigned for a candidate to be responsible for counting votes and declaring results in that same election,” the party said.

ADC demands transparent INEC guidelines

The opposition party urged INEC to develop and publish clear guidelines for determining the eligibility of prospective election officials.

It said the guidelines should exclude academics and other prospective officials who have publicly endorsed political candidates, participated in campaigns or demonstrated clear partisan affiliations.

The ADC also asked the electoral commission to publish the names of proposed returning and collation officers well ahead of the 2027 elections.

According to the party, early publication would allow political parties and members of the public to scrutinise the list and raise objections where potential conflicts of interest are identified.

“The integrity of any election begins with the neutrality of those overseeing the process, long before the first ballot is cast,” the ADC stated.

The party added that Nigerians deserved election officials whose impartiality was beyond question, arguing that the neutrality of those responsible for handling election results was critical to maintaining public confidence in the 2027 electoral process.