ADC Warns INEC Against Partisan Lecturers for 2027 Elections

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has issued a warning to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) regarding the appointment of returning officers for the 2027 presidential election. This warning follows reports that over 600 senior lecturers from public universities in the North have endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the upcoming election.

Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the National Publicity Secretary of ADC, stated that while individuals have the constitutional right to support political candidates, those who have taken a partisan stance should not be responsible for determining election outcomes involving those candidates. The ADC called for INEC to establish clear criteria disqualifying academics and other election officials who have publicly endorsed candidates or engaged in partisan activities.

Furthermore, the party urged INEC to publish the names of proposed Returning and Collation Officers well in advance of the elections to allow for public scrutiny and to address potential conflicts of interest.