The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to review the appointment of politically exposed academics as returning and collation officers for the 2027 general elections.
The party made the demand in a statement issued on Monday by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi.
The call followed a report that more than 600 senior lecturers from public universities across northern Nigeria had endorsed President Bola Tinubu for the 2027 presidential election.
The ADC said the reported endorsement had raised concerns about the credibility of the electoral process, particularly because university lecturers and vice-chancellors have often been appointed as returning and collation officers during elections.
The party acknowledged that academics, like other Nigerians, have the constitutional right to support political candidates.
However, it argued that those who have publicly taken partisan positions should not be appointed to determine the outcome of elections involving candidates they have endorsed.
“You cannot campaign for a candidate and then be entrusted with counting the votes and declaring winners in the same election that your candidate is contesting in,” the statement said.
The ADC urged INEC to develop and publish clear criteria for excluding prospective election officials who have publicly endorsed candidates, participated in partisan political activities or demonstrated clear political affiliations.
It also asked the commission to publish the names of proposed returning and collation officers well ahead of the 2027 elections.
According to the party, such early disclosure would give political parties and members of the public an opportunity to identify and raise legitimate concerns over possible conflicts of interest.
“The integrity of an election does not begin when the first ballot is cast. It begins with the neutrality of the people entrusted to administer, collate, and declare its outcome,” the party said.
The ADC added, “Nigerians must never be placed in a position where those who have publicly chosen a side are subsequently presented as neutral arbiters of the contest.”
The party said its demand was aimed at strengthening transparency, neutrality and public confidence in the electoral process ahead of the 2027 general elections.