RismadarVoice Reporters
October 12, 2026
Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to disclose the identities of companies contracted to print ballot papers and other sensitive materials for the 2027 general elections.
Atiku said greater transparency in the procurement and handling of election materials was necessary to strengthen public confidence in the electoral process and address concerns about possible political interference.
In a statement issued through his Director of Strategic Communication, Phrank Shaibu, on behalf of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Presidential Campaign Council, Atiku demanded clarification of reported contracts, personnel redeployments and security arrangements within the electoral commission.
He specifically asked INEC to confirm or deny reports that Hitech Construction Company or any of its affiliates had been awarded contracts for printing sensitive election materials.
Atiku also questioned allegations that a substantial proportion of the materials, including presidential ballot papers, had been allocated to an unidentified company reportedly based in France.
He further sought clarification of claims that the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Plc would produce election materials for only 15 to 17 states, leaving the remaining assignments to private contractors.
The former vice-president demanded publication of the identities of contractors, the scope of their assignments, procurement procedures and measures established to safeguard sensitive electoral documents.
He argued that Nigerians deserved clear information about the companies entrusted with producing ballot papers and result sheets.
Atiku also raised concerns about the possibility of Hitech or an affiliated company participating in the procurement process, citing reported business relationships involving the company’s owners and President Bola Tinubu’s family.
He referred to controversies surrounding the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway contract, arguing that INEC should address any circumstances capable of raising questions about its independence.
The allegations concerning the award of election-printing contracts have not been independently established, and the statement did not provide documentary evidence confirming the reported allocations.
Beyond procurement, Atiku requested explanations for reported changes in INEC’s Electoral Operations, Voter Registry and Information and Communication Technology departments.
He questioned the reported redeployment of Isa Magaji Gum from Electoral Operations to Voter Registry and the appointment of Oluyemi Titilayo Adeyemi-Showunmi to oversee Electoral Operations.
He also identified Dr Lawrence Bayode in connection with the commission’s ICT leadership.
According to Atiku, the commission should disclose the criteria governing the appointments and redeployments and explain how the decisions complied with established procedures.
He maintained that the departments concerned perform important functions in voter registration, election logistics, ballot administration and technology deployment.
The former vice-president additionally urged the Central Bank of Nigeria to clarify the allocation of banknote-printing contracts and the involvement of domestic and foreign contractors.
He called for greater utilisation of Nigeria’s security-printing capacity, alongside transparent procedures for tracking election materials from production to distribution.
Atiku warned against electoral manipulation and said his party would monitor preparations for the 2027 polls while drawing the attention of election observers to any concerns identified.
He maintained that disputes surrounding procurement, appointments and election logistics should be addressed through verifiable disclosures rather than left to speculation.
The claims and concerns outlined in the statement represent Atiku’s position and do not, by themselves, establish wrongdoing by INEC, the companies mentioned or any government official.
The commission’s response to the specific allegations was not included in the statement.
