ADC Warns INEC Against Partisan Lecturers for Elections

On 15 September 2026, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) issued a warning to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) against appointing lecturers who have publicly endorsed political candidates as Returning and Collation Officers for the upcoming 2027 general election. The ADC expressed concerns that allowing such individuals to manage election results could lead to conflicts of interest and diminish public confidence in the electoral process.

This statement follows reports that over 600 lecturers from public universities in the North have endorsed President Bola Tinubu for the presidential election. The ADC, represented by its National Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi, emphasized that those who have taken partisan positions should not be involved in determining election outcomes.

The party called for INEC to establish clear criteria to disqualify such individuals and to publish the names of proposed electoral officials in advance to allow for public scrutiny regarding potential conflicts of interest.