INEC UNDER FIRE OVER REDEPLOYMENT OF NORTHERN DIRECTOR

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is facing questions over reported changes at the head of two departments central to election administration ahead of the 2027 general elections.

THE REDEPLOYMENT

According to SaharaReporters, Isah Magaji Gummi, a director from northern Nigeria, has been moved from Electoral Operations to the Voter Registry Department.

In his place, Mrs Oluyemi Adeyemi-Showunmi, an official from the South-West who previously served as the Administrative Secretary of INEC’s Lagos office, has reportedly been deployed to the Commission’s headquarters to oversee Electoral Operations.

The changes have raised questions about the rationale for moving Gummi from his previous position and assigning Adeyemi-Showunmi responsibility for the department.

WHY ELECTORAL OPERATIONS MATTERS

According to the INEC Manual for Election Officials, the Electoral Operations Department is the central unit responsible for planning, organising and supervising the conduct of elections across Nigeria.

Its mandate covers every stage of the electoral process: distribution of sensitive and non-sensitive materials such as ballot papers and voter registers, management of polling units, training of election officials, recruitment of ad hoc staff, and supervision of collation and returning officers at ward, local government, state and national levels.

The department also enforces INEC’s code of conduct, monitors election-day activities, and works closely with political parties, observers and security agencies.In short, whoever controls Electoral Operations controls the mechanics of the election.

THE ICT DEPARTMENT

The concerns extend to INEC’s Information and Communication Technology Department, which is headed by Dr Lawrence Bayode, identified as a South-Western official.

The ICT department is an important component of the Commission’s electoral infrastructure, particularly in an election environment where technology plays a role in voter registration, accreditation, results management and other administrative processes.

The reported leadership configuration of the Electoral Operations and ICT departments has prompted questions about regional representation in positions considered critical to election administration.

THE ADC’S REACTION

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has raised concerns over alleged ethnic bias in the redeployments.In a statement issued on Sunday by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC said it had received intelligence and direct complaints about the changes, warning that the pattern could raise questions about INEC’s neutrality if not properly explained.

“We have specific names of officers moved from Electoral Operations and ICT in a number of northern states and replaced with officers from Lagos and other South-West states.

INEC may dismiss this as routine. But we have noticed a pattern, especially along ethnic lines, and we are concerned,” the statement said.

The party said it was not yet accusing the commission of any nefarious motive but insisted that allegations capable of undermining public confidence in the electoral process should not be dismissed as routine.

“Regardless of the commission’s motives, questions about regional concentration in sensitive departments cannot be brushed aside as routine administrative matters,” the ADC said.

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The party urged INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan (SAN), to publish details of the recent postings, the criteria used in selecting officers for the positions and the reasons behind the changes.

THE POLITICAL CONNECTION

Further questions have been raised about the potential perception of political influence arising from the reported appointment.

Adeyemi-Showunmi’s husband, Otunba Segun Showunmi, is a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and convener of The Alternative.

He has also publicly expressed support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.

The concerns carry particular weight because President Tinubu, a former Lagos governor from the South-West, will seek re-election in the 2027 general elections, which makes public confidence in the independence of the electoral umpire a central issue.

WHY IT MATTERS

INEC’s credibility depends not only on the conduct of voting and the declaration of results but also on the credibility and transparency of the administrative decisions that precede an election.

If stakeholders believe that key departments are being staffed along ethnic or political lines, confidence in the process erodes.

INEC has fixed January 16, 2027, for the presidential and National Assembly elections and February 6, 2027, for the governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections.

ValidViewNetwork reports that INEC has not yet responded to the allegations. The commission’s chairman faces questions that will shape public confidence in the 2027 polls.