Showunmi's spouse: INEC has already rigged 2027 election – Kenneth Okonkwo

Kenneth Okonkwo, spokesman for the African Democratic Congress, ADC, presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar, has alleged that the redeployment of Oluyemi Titilayo Adeyemi-Showunmi to move the Electoral Operations Department of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, raises issues in regards to the credibility of the 2027 normal election.

Okonkwo argued that the appointment creates a possible battle of curiosity as a result of Adeyemi-Showunmi is the spouse of Segun Showunmi, deputy spokesperson of the All Progressives Congress, APC, presidential marketing campaign council.

Segun Showunmi is supporting President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.

Speaking on the controversy on Arise News, Okonkwo maintained that the appointment might undermine public confidence within the electoral course of given the obligations connected to the division.

He stated, “Allowing the wife of Showunmi to be the electoral operations department officer is rigging the election before the time.”

Okonkwo defined that the division performs an important function in election administration, together with the distribution of delicate and non-sensitive supplies, recruitment and coaching of advert hoc personnel, and coordination of polling and collation actions.

He added that the division additionally supervises returning officers throughout elections, arguing that its obligations make the place notably delicate forward of the 2027 polls.

“We are not talking about whether there will be bias. We are saying that anything that has the likelihood of bias is not allowed,” he stated.

The ADC spokesman cited the precept of battle of curiosity, arguing that public officers should keep away from conditions that might create cheap doubts about their impartiality, no matter whether or not precise bias will be established.

He maintained that the difficulty was not essentially a query of the officer’s private integrity however whether or not the circumstances surrounding her redeployment might have an effect on confidence in INEC’s neutrality.

However, Segun Showunmi has denied that his spouse’s redeployment was a political reward, describing her as a profession civil servant who has labored at INEC all through her skilled life. He additionally stated she was a Level 17 officer.

The improvement has sparked issues about INEC’s perceived neutrality as political events start preparations for the 2027 normal election.

Okonkwo additionally questioned the integrity of the voter register, elevating issues about experiences of deceased individuals allegedly remaining on the register.