INEC and neutrality test – Daily Trust

By Musa Luka Musa, Baba Martins & Seun Adeuyi

Fresh controversies have resurfaced over the redeployment of key personnel of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) forward of the 2027 basic elections.

In the current adjustments at INEC, Mrs Oluyemi Titilayo Adeyemi-Showunmi, previously the Administrative Secretary of the fee’s Lagos State workplace, was redeployed because the Director of Electoral Operations on the fee. She is the spouse of Segun Showunmi, a spokesman for the Tinubu/Shettima 2027 Presidential Campaign Council.

Prof. Mustapha Aliu, recognized as an elder brother of Sokoto State Governor, Ahmed Aliyu, who’s looking for a second time period on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has additionally been nominated as an INEC commissioner.

According to studies, Isah Magaji Gummi, who beforehand headed the Electoral Operations Department, was redeployed to the Voter Registry Department.

The Electoral Operations Department performs a key position in election planning and implementation, together with the coordination of polling preparations, deployment of election supplies and administration of personnel concerned in electoral operations.

Although the director of the division doesn’t independently decide election outcomes, the tasks hooked up to the workplace have drawn consideration to the redeployment and requires INEC to clarify the issues behind the choice.

Adeyemi-Showunmi’s redeployment has sparked debate amongst civil society organisations and on social media over transparency, political neutrality and public confidence within the electoral physique.

Former director of voter training at INEC, Mr Nick Dazang, when contacted stated, it might be unsuitable for the Commission to faux that appointing somebody that near a sitting governor who’s contesting elections has no implications.

“The individual could also be eminently certified however I’ve profound misgivings if he can discharge or execute his workplace as Resident Electoral Commissioner with the professionalism, neutrality and impartiality that the workplace calls for.

On the redeployment of Sowunmi spouse, he stated within the time previous, and oblivious of the closeness/proximity of INEC officers to sure politically uncovered individuals, INEC officers on their advantage, had been inadvertently assigned to roles/duties that put them in troublesome positions which sophisticated the Commission’s core values of impartiality and neutrality.

He stated In such circumstances, and in deference to its core values, INEC has demonstrated sensitivity by not posting such deserving officers to those positions.

“It is likely that the Commission may not be aware or cognizant of the said officer’s relationship with a prominent politician. “But once this is established, and its attention is called to this reality, it should promptly do the needful, namely: not to put the officer in a position that compromises the Commission’s principles of neutrality and provision of a level playing field to all contestants. In the prevailing circumstance, the officer should be directed to recuse herself. This will allay fears, rightly or wrongly, that she has been procured to deliberately confer an advantage to any candidate(s) in the election. Either the tenure of the subsisting Director is specially extended for the period of the election, or his Deputy is directed to act in the position of Director, subject to consideration(s) of merit, federal character and the core values aforementioned,” he added.

Director-General of YIAGA Africa, Samson Itodo, warned that the electoral physique should guarantee public confidence within the electoral course of and shouldn’t take the individuals as a right in its appointment.

On the appointment of Adeyemi-Showunmi as INEC Director of Electoral Operations, Itodo stated elections are essentially about operations, including that by this token, it is without doubt one of the most delicate and consequential departments inside INEC.

He stated, “In reality, the Electoral Operations Department is on the coronary heart of election administration. From the recruitment and deployment of polling officers to the planning, manufacturing and distribution of election supplies, in addition to the operational preparations for voting and outcomes collation, the division performs a central position in figuring out how elections are carried out.

“Mrs. Showunmi’s competence and skilled capability will not be doubtful. However, competence alone just isn’t adequate for appointments to delicate positions in election administration. The independence, impartiality and perceived neutrality of these entrusted with managing elections are equally necessary.

“Appointing people with robust ties to politicians in such strategic positions inevitably raises reliable questions on impartiality and INEC independence. These issues turn into much more pronounced in a local weather of deep public mistrust, rising fears of political seize of INEC, and politicians boldly declaring the variety of votes they anticipate to safe earlier than a single poll has been solid.

“At a time when public confidence in the electoral process is already fragile, appointments to critical positions within INEC should inspire confidence, not deepen suspicion. INEC must recognize that its credibility rests not only on the technical competence of its personnel but also on public confidence in INEC’s independence from partisan interests. Public confidence in the electoral process must never be taken for granted. In this instance, it is being taken for granted,” he stated.

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar was amongst those that first raised the alarm over the difficulty, demanding quick and full transparency from INEC.

In an announcement issued by his Director of Strategic Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku stated the reported adjustments within the Electoral Operations Department raised severe questions that INEC should reply immediately.

“Reports point out that Director Isa Magaji Gummi was moved from Electoral Operations to the Voter Registry Department, whereas Mrs Oluyemi Titilayo Adeyemi-Showunmi was appointed to go Electoral Operations. Dr Lawrence Bayode has additionally been recognized as the pinnacle of Information and Communication Technology (ICT).

“These departments are at the heart of election administration. INEC must explain these decisions, publish the criteria applied and show that every appointment and redeployment followed due process, was based on merit and was free from political interference. Nigerians will not accept vague assurances on matters this serious.”

Atiku stated no official needs to be presumed compromised due to their ethnicity, background or associations. But when reported political connections or a focus of appointments raises public concern, INEC should present verifiable assurances that its impartiality is protected.

“A government that has driven millions of Nigerians into hardship must not be allowed to turn the electoral umpire into an instrument of political survival. When sensitive election departments are reshaped and major contracts are surrounded by unanswered questions, the suspicion that a failing administration is seeking every possible advantage to cling to power will only grow. INEC must dispel that suspicion through full, immediate and verifiable disclosure,” he stated.

A political analyst, Professor Saleh Dauda, maintained that political undertones can’t be dominated out within the redeployment of Adeyemi-Showunmi forward of the final elections.

Dauda, nevertheless, stated the transfer may be a routine civil service switch, noting that there was no conclusive proof to ascertain that it was politically motivated.

Speaking on the event, Prof Dauda stated the circumstances had raised questions on the opportunity of political affect in key establishments.

“In the Nigerian political scene, anything can happen. You cannot rule out the possibility of political undertones in her redeployment to the INEC headquarters. And from another angle, you can also see it as a mere coincidence of civil service routine transfer,” he stated.

The political analyst additionally cited issues in regards to the independence of public establishments, together with INEC, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the judiciary, describing the argument as a part of a broader debate about whether or not Nigeria operates as a “captured state.”

He, nevertheless, urged Nigerians to give attention to demanding credible elections reasonably than drawing conclusions in regards to the redeployment with out adequate proof.

“The only thing that I would rather ask Nigerians to insist on is the issue of free and fair elections. After all, elections are not done at the headquarters,” he stated.

He argued that elections have been carried out at state, native authorities and ward ranges earlier than outcomes have been transmitted to the nationwide headquarters, stressing that the credibility of the method at these ranges was important.

“If we have credible elections at this level, there’s no way the election can be different at the national INEC headquarters,” he added.

‘Allegations on redeployment speculative’

A senior INEC official, who spoke on situation of anonymity as a result of he was not authorised to remark publicly on the matter, faulted a number of the claims surrounding the appointments, saying the allegations of ethnic and different issues have been largely speculative.

The official stated the Director of Planning and Monitoring just isn’t Yoruba, whereas the Director of Human Resources, whose division handles appointments, promotions and self-discipline, hails from the North-Central.

He added that the Director of Voter Education and Publicity is from the South-South, not the South-East, as some accounts steered.

According to him, virtually all of the seven administrators listed as being from the South-West have been appointed beneath the previous INEC chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, reasonably than the present management.

The official maintained that the appointments have been primarily based on a mix of advantage and seniority, though he acknowledged that the most recent reshuffle might nonetheless increase questions.

He, nevertheless, described the proof being relied upon to counsel wrongdoing as largely speculative.

On the redeployment of Magaji from the Operations Department to Voter Registration, the official stated he was already on his three-month pre-retirement go away.

He defined that Magaji remained at work following a federal authorities round issued in May, which clarified that workers weren’t required to avoid work through the three-month discover interval earlier than retirement.

Daily Trust remembers that the Presidency introduced Aliyu’s nomination on October 16, 2026, alongside three different nationwide commissioners and two Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs).

Nominated INEC nationwide commissioners

In September, 4 nationwide commissioner positions have been declared vacant at INEC. An official of the fee, who spoke completely to Daily Trust then, stated three nationwide commissioners had already accomplished their five-year tenure and left the fee on September 14, whereas one other is predicted to depart in October.

The affected names, in accordance with the supply, have been Professor Abdullahi Abdu Zuru from the North-West, who was the Chairman, Operations and Logistics Committee; Professor Sani Adam from the North-Central, who was the Chairman, Legal Services, Clearance and Compliance Committee; Dr. Baba Bila, from the North-East, who was the Chairman, Finance and General Purpose Committee and Professor Cornelius Ajayi from the South-West, as  Chairman, Outreach and Partnership Committee, who is predicted to depart this month.

Last Friday, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu nominated 4 nationwide commissioners and two resident electoral commissioners (RECs) to fill vacancies at INEC. The nominations, introduced by the Presidency, are topic to affirmation by the Senate.

According to an announcement by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the president additionally reappointed Dr Bila because the nationwide commissioner representing the North-East.

Prof Aliu, a brother of Sokoto State governor, was nominated to switch Prof Zuru because the North-West consultant, whereas Bashir Muhammed Umar was nominated to switch Professor Muhammad Adamu because the North-Central consultant.

Tinubu additionally nominated Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola, the resident electoral commissioner in Osun State, because the nationwide commissioner representing the South-West. She is predicted to switch Prof Ajayi, whose tenure expires on October 24.

For the resident electoral commissioner positions, the president nominated retired everlasting secretary, Dr Samuel Akinjide Akinleye, to signify Ekiti State, and Zahradden Basiru Sanusi, from Jigawa State, to switch Professor Saidu Ahmed Babura.

The president urged the Senate to expedite the affirmation course of, citing the forthcoming basic elections scheduled for January subsequent 12 months.

The Senate is predicted to scrutinise the nominees earlier than their appointments are finalised.

Sokoto govt defends gov’s brother

Meanwhile, the Sokoto State authorities has defended the nomination of the state governor’s elder brother to switch Prof Zuru, saying there isn’t a proof that the connection with the federal government might undermine the nominee’s impartiality. It additionally argued that the nominee’s household relationship with Governor Aliyu was not adequate grounds for disqualification.

Special Adviser to the governor on Political Matters, Faruku Labbo, said this in an announcement on Monday whereas reacting to the calls by the African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship candidate in Sokoto, Manir Muhammad Dan’iya, on President Tinubu to rethink the nomination and the Senate to topic the nominee to rigorous scrutiny earlier than affirmation.

Labbo maintained that Prof Aliyu was certified for the nationwide project and didn’t maintain any place within the APC at any stage.

He challenged the ADC candidate to show in any other case, stressing that household ties alone didn’t represent constitutional disqualification.

Daily Trust remembers that in 2025, when Amina Zakari was appointed as Acting INEC chairman, although many agreed she was competent, the appointment was broadly rejected.

It was stated to interrupt the custom that when an incumbent president or head of presidency is from the southern aspect of the River Niger, the pinnacle of the electoral umpire needs to be from the northern aspect of that river and vice versa.