Peter Obi Media Office (POMR) has raised concerns over the reported endorsement of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu by about 600 university academics, alleging that the development could undermine the credibility of the 2027 presidential election.
In a statement issued on Tuesday and signed by its spokesman, Idris Zekeri Jnr., the media office described the reported endorsement as a potential attempt to establish what it called a partisan network ahead of the election.
POMR argued that the academics should not be regarded merely as private citizens exercising their political rights because some university academics have historically served as electoral officials, including returning and collation officers.
The statement said their public support for the incumbent president had therefore raised questions about the possibility of conflicts of interest if some of them were subsequently appointed to sensitive electoral positions.
“Electoral rigging does not suddenly occur on election day; it begins months or even years earlier through the identification, cultivation, and placement of individuals capable of influencing the process when votes are finally cast,” the office alleged.
According to POMR, allowing academics who have publicly endorsed a presidential candidate to participate in the administration of the election could create perceptions of bias and further weaken public confidence in the electoral process.
The media office consequently urged Nigerians to remain vigilant ahead of the 2027 general elections, stressing that preparations for any attempt to manipulate the electoral process could begin well before voting day.
POMR called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to disclose the identities of all the academics involved in the reported endorsement and prevent them from serving as returning officers, collation officers or other electoral personnel during the 2027 elections.
It also urged INEC to publish the names of prospective returning and collation officers well ahead of future elections to enable political parties, civil society organisations and members of the public to scrutinise their political neutrality.
The office further called on university governing councils and academic bodies to establish stronger conflict-of-interest regulations governing the political activities of their staff.
It argued that such measures would help prevent academic institutions and their personnel from being used for partisan mobilisation in ways that could compromise confidence in their professional roles during elections.
POMR maintained that the credibility of the 2027 election would depend not only on the conduct of voters on election day but also on the neutrality and integrity of those entrusted with administering and announcing the results.
“Nigerians are watching. The machinery for rigging must not be allowed to take root before the election even begins,” the statement said.
The media office stressed that the choice of Nigeria’s next leaders should ultimately be determined by the votes of citizens rather than what it described as a “pre-arranged electoral network.”
COURTESY: tribuneonlineng.com
