Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to disclose the identities of companies handling the printing of ballot papers and other sensitive materials for the 2027 general elections, warning that a lack of transparency could undermine public confidence in the electoral process.
Atiku made the demand through a statement issued by Phrank Shaibu, his Director of Strategic Communication in the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Presidential Campaign Council, on Sunday, October 11, 2026.
The former vice-president urged INEC to clarify its procurement arrangements, identify the companies involved in producing sensitive election materials and explain the safeguards put in place to protect ballot papers and other electoral documents from unauthorised access or manipulation.
He specifically asked the commission to confirm or deny reports that Hitech, or a company associated with it, had secured a contract to print sensitive materials for the 2027 elections.
Atiku also expressed concern over claims that more than half of the commission’s sensitive election materials, including presidential ballot materials, might have been allocated to an undisclosed company reportedly based in France.
However, the allegations remain subject to clarification by INEC, and the identity of the company in question has not been established in the reports.
The former vice-president further questioned reports suggesting that the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Plc (NSPMC) might be responsible for printing election materials for only between 15 and 17 states, with private companies allegedly handling assignments for other states.
He argued that Nigerians deserved clear information about the arrangements for producing election materials ahead of the polls, particularly given the importance of ballot security to the credibility of the electoral process.
Atiku called on INEC to publish the names of all companies engaged for the exercise, the materials allocated to each contractor, the procurement methods adopted and the security arrangements governing production, storage and delivery.
He maintained that such disclosures would help address public concerns and enable citizens to assess the commission’s preparations for the elections based on verifiable information rather than speculation.
The ADC chieftain also raised questions about reported changes involving officials in some of INEC’s key departments, particularly those responsible for electoral operations, voter registration and information technology.
According to the statement, Isa Magaji Gum was reportedly moved from the Electoral Operations Department to the Voter Registry Department, while Oluyemi Titilayo Adeyemi-Showunmi was appointed to head Electoral Operations.
Dr Lawrence Bayode was also identified as the head of the commission’s Information and Communication Technology Department.
Atiku called on INEC to explain the circumstances surrounding the reported changes and disclose the criteria used in making the appointments and redeployments.
He argued that the departments play critical roles in election administration and that transparency in their management was necessary to sustain confidence in the commission’s impartiality.
The former vice-president insisted that INEC should demonstrate that its administrative decisions were based on established procedures and professional considerations, rather than political influence.
He also linked his concerns over the reported printing arrangements to questions about possible business connections between companies that could be involved in the exercise and individuals associated with the political leadership.
In particular, Atiku referenced publicly reported business ties between the Chagoury family, which owns Hitech, and the family of President Bola Tinubu.
He argued that any decision to award sensitive election-material contracts to Hitech or an associated company would require clear explanations from the electoral commission.
However, whether Hitech or any company linked to it has been awarded such a contract remains a matter for INEC to clarify. Atiku also urged the commission to address the issue directly if neither the company nor any associated firm had been selected.
Beyond the 2027 elections, the former vice-president called on the Central Bank of Nigeria to provide information about banknote-printing arrangements and clarify the respective roles of domestic and foreign contractors.
He also urged INEC to maximise the capacity of qualified local security-printing companies while ensuring that ballot papers, result sheets and other sensitive documents were properly accounted for throughout the production and distribution process.
Atiku warned against any attempt to undermine the electoral process, saying the ADC would monitor INEC’s preparations and draw the attention of domestic and international observers to any concerns about transparency.
His demands come as political parties and other stakeholders begin scrutinising the arrangements for the 2027 general elections.
INEC’s response to the questions raised by Atiku will be important in determining whether the concerns surrounding the reported contracts and personnel changes can be resolved through official explanations and verifiable information.
For now, the identities of the companies allegedly involved in the disputed printing arrangements, the reported allocation of materials and the circumstances surrounding the contracts require clarification from the electoral commission.
The central issue is whether INEC will provide sufficient information about its procurement decisions and security procedures to reassure Nigerians that the production and handling of sensitive election materials will be conducted transparently and securely..
