By Iroyin Yoruba Television
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to explain recent staff postings and redeployments following allegations that the changes may favour officials from Lagos and other South-West states.
In a statement issued on October 11, 2026, the party's National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said the ADC had received information and complaints about personnel changes affecting strategic departments within the electoral commission.
The party alleged that some officials from northern states who had served in Electoral Operations and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) were transferred to other departments and replaced by officers from Lagos and other South-West states.
The allegations have not been independently established. The ADC has called for transparency, arguing that personnel decisions within an institution responsible for conducting elections should be explained when questions arise about impartiality.
ADC Seeks Transparency Over Personnel Changes
According to Abdullahi, the party had identified officers it believed were affected by the reported redeployments.
The ADC said the pattern of changes raised concerns about possible regional or ethnic favouritism, particularly because Electoral Operations and ICT are important to the commission's work.
However, the party stated that it was not making a conclusive accusation that INEC had acted with improper intentions. Instead, it urged the commission to address the allegations with evidence and explain the reasons for the changes.
The distinction is important: the reported transfers and the party's concerns do not, by themselves, establish that INEC's decisions were motivated by ethnic bias.
Party Calls on INEC Chairman to Publish Criteria
The ADC called on INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, to disclose the recent postings, the criteria used to select officers for the affected positions and the reasons behind the redeployments.
The party said making the information available would help reassure Nigerians that personnel decisions were based on clear and consistent standards rather than regional or ethnic considerations.
It also warned that unresolved questions about the neutrality of election officials could affect public confidence in the electoral process ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The commission's explanation, including any relevant administrative records, would be necessary to assess the allegations fairly.
Why the Issue Matters Ahead of 2027
Public confidence in an electoral commission depends partly on whether voters and political parties believe that the institution operates impartially.
Personnel postings alone do not prove political interference. Their significance depends on the reasons for the decisions, the applicable administrative rules and whether the same standards are applied consistently across the country.
The concerns raised by the ADC therefore require a response grounded in verifiable information rather than assumptions about the regional origins of individual officials.
As preparations for the 2027 elections continue, a clear explanation from INEC could help address the party's concerns and allow the public to evaluate the matter using documented facts.
For now, the allegations remain claims made by the ADC. Any conclusion about whether the postings involved ethnic bias will require evidence beyond the party's statement.