Avoid Appointing Partisan Lecturers as Returning Officers at Poll, ADC Tells INEC
Chuks Okocha in Abuja The African Democratic Congress (ADC), has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to immediately review the use of politically exposed academics as Returning and
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to reconsider the practice of appointing politically involved academics as Returning and Collation Officers in the 2027 general election. This call came after a report revealed that over 600 senior lecturers from northern Nigerian universities had supported President Bola Tinubu in the upcoming presidential race.
The ADC raised concerns about the potential conflict of interest and the impact on electoral credibility, given that such individuals have historically been responsible for counting votes and declaring election results. ADC spokesman stated, "While affirming the right of every Nigerian, even academics, to back any political candidate, the party emphasized that no individual who has openly shown a partisan stance should be allowed to oversee the same election where their chosen candidate is competing."
This assertion underscores the notion that it is inappropriate for someone to campaign for a particular candidate and then take part in the official vote-counting process and announce the winner in the same election. The party demanded that INEC create transparent rules and make a list of disqualified election officials – those who have voiced support for a candidate, engaged in partisan activities, or displayed clear political leanings.
Furthermore, the ADC called on INEC to publish the names of those set to become Returning and Collation Officers well in advance of the elections, allowing political parties and the general public to identify any potential conflicts of interest. The ADC emphasized the importance of maintaining the integrity of elections by ensuring that those entrusted with administering, tallying, and declaring election results remain impartial.
They firmly stated, "The legitimacy of an election does not begin when the first vote is cast. It begins with the neutrality of the people responsible for administering, collating, and declaring its outcome. Citizens must never have to witness individuals who have publicly chosen one side now being presented as unbiased arbiters in the contest."
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