ADC Warns INEC Over Lecturers’ Appointment for 2027 Polls

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has cautioned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) against appointing academics who have publicly endorsed political candidates as Returning and Collation Officers for the 2027 general elections.

This was just as the party said the appointment of lecturers who have openly taken partisan positions could undermine public confidence in the credibility and impartiality of the electoral process.

ADC’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, made the position known in a statement on Monday, following reports that more than 600 senior academics from public universities across Northern Nigeria had endorsed President Bola Tinubu for a second term.

The party acknowledged that university lecturers, like other citizens, have the constitutional right to support candidates of their choice. However, it argued that academics who publicly endorse a candidate should not subsequently be entrusted with responsibilities involving the collation and declaration of results in an election contested by that candidate.

“You cannot campaign for a candidate and then be entrusted with counting the votes and declaring winners in the same election that your candidate is contesting in,” the ADC said.

The party noted that university lecturers and vice-chancellors are regularly considered by INEC for election duties, including the collation of results and declaration of winners.

It therefore urged the electoral commission to establish clear rules preventing academics and other prospective election officials who have publicly endorsed candidates, participated in partisan activities or demonstrated obvious political affiliations from serving in sensitive electoral positions.

The ADC further called on INEC to publish the names of proposed Returning and Collation Officers sufficiently ahead of the elections.

According to the party, early publication would enable political parties and members of the public to scrutinise the nominees and raise concerns over potential conflicts of interest before election day.

The ADC said electoral credibility extended beyond the conduct of voting to the neutrality of officials responsible for administering, collating and declaring the results.

“Nigerians must never be placed in a position where those who have publicly chosen a side are subsequently presented as neutral arbiters of the contest,” the party said.

The warning followed a weekend meeting in Kaduna where more than senior academics from public universities in Northern Nigeria reportedly declared support for Tinubu’s re-election bid.

The meeting, held at the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua Centre, was convened by the Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Ibrahim Masari, to assess the Tinubu administration and discuss the country’s political future.

Those reported to have attended included Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani; Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal; Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni; Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum; and Gombe State Governor Inuwa Yahaya.

Also listed were Defence Minister Bello Matawalle, Housing Minister Muttaqha Rabe Darma and former Katsina State Governor Aminu Bello Masari.

A source said public universities across the 19 northern states were represented at the meeting, with participants drawn from the North-West, North-Central and North-East.

The academics reportedly reviewed the administration’s performance since Tinubu assumed office in May 2023, particularly its handling of economic, security, political and social challenges affecting the region.

In their communiqué, they acknowledged that some government reforms had increased the immediate economic burden on Nigerians through higher living and transportation costs and inflationary pressures.

They nevertheless cited progress in areas including education financing, agriculture, infrastructure, business support, compressed natural gas, investment and the digital economy.

The academics subsequently declared support for Tinubu’s re-election, while stressing that their endorsement was not unconditional.

“Our support should not be interpreted as a blank check,” they said, urging the Federal Government to respond to legitimate criticism and address food and transportation costs, unemployment and insecurity.

They also called for a broader security strategy combining military operations with intelligence gathering, effective policing, community engagement and economic opportunities, alongside greater investment in agriculture, education, healthcare, roads, electricity and irrigation in Northern Nigeria.