ADC urges INEC to bar partisan academics from 2027 election officer roles
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to appoint academics who have openly taken partisan political positions as Returning and Collation Officers for the 2027 general elections. In a statement issued Monday by National Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC cited reports that more than 600 senior lecturers from public universities in Northern Nigeria have endorsed President Bola Tinubu for the 2027 presidential race.
While acknowledging academics' constitutional right to support any candidate, the ADC argued that those who publicly endorse a candidate should not oversee election results involving that candidate, warning of a clear conflict of interest. The party said university lecturers and vice-chancellors are often tapped by INEC to collate results and declare winners, which could undermine electoral credibility if perceived as biased.
The ADC urged INEC to introduce explicit guidelines disqualifying academics and other officials who have publicly endorsed candidates or engaged in partisan activities. It also called for the early publication of proposed Returning and Collation Officers' names to allow parties and the public to raise conflict-of-interest concerns before the polls.
Will INEC heed this call to safeguard election neutrality, or risk further doubts about the credibility of the 2027 general elections?