600 Northern Lecturers who attended Tinubu endorsement show must be bared 2027 election duties – ADC warns INEC

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to exclude university lecturers with publicly declared partisan affiliations from serving as returning and collation officers during the 2027 general elections.

The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, made the call in a statement on Monday following reports that more than 600 senior academics from public universities in Northern Nigeria had endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s bid for re-election.

The ADC said the reported endorsements raised concerns about the neutrality of university lecturers who may subsequently be appointed to sensitive electoral positions.

According to the opposition party, academics who have openly declared support for political candidates could face potential conflicts of interest if they are assigned responsibilities involving the collation and declaration of results in elections contested by their preferred candidates.

The party, however, acknowledged that university lecturers and other academics, like every other Nigerian, have a constitutional right to support or endorse political candidates.

It argued that exercising that right should not automatically translate into eligibility for sensitive electoral duties where their declared political preference could raise questions about their impartiality.

“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 statement read.

The ADC therefore called on INEC to develop and publish clear guidelines identifying circumstances under which prospective election officials who have publicly endorsed candidates, participated in campaigns or demonstrated overt partisan affiliations would be excluded from election duties.

The party also urged the electoral commission to publish the names of proposed returning and collation officers sufficiently ahead of the 2027 elections.

According to the ADC, early publication of the list would allow political parties, candidates and members of the public to scrutinise the proposed appointments and raise legitimate concerns about possible conflicts of interest before election day.

The party said such a process would strengthen public confidence in the electoral system and reduce doubts about the credibility of election results.

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

The ADC added, “Nigerians deserve election officials whose impartiality is beyond question.”

The party’s demand comes as political parties intensify preparations for the 2027 elections and scrutiny of the neutrality and independence of electoral officials becomes increasingly prominent.

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