The Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education, CHRICED, has warned that the integrity of the 2027 general elections could be compromised if academics with recent partisan affiliations are deployed as Returning and Collation Officers.
In a press statement issued on Wednesday and signed by its Executive Director, Comrade Ibrahim M. Zikirullahi, said its concern was triggered by a Daily Trust report which alleged that more than 600 senior academics from public universities in Northern Nigeria attended a closed-door meeting in Kaduna convened by a Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Ibrahim Masari.
According to the report cited by CHRICED, the meeting was aimed at “securing the endorsement and active support” of academics for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid.
The organisation stated that while academics have the right to political participation like all citizens, entrusting individuals who have recently taken public partisan positions with the responsibility of collating or declaring results creates a conflict of interest and threatens public confidence.
CHRICED argued that academic status does not guarantee electoral neutrality, referencing past cases of electoral offences involving university lecturers.
It cited the conviction of Professor Peter Ogban, an INEC Returning Officer, for manipulating and falsifying election results, and that of Professor Ignatius Uduk of the University of Uyo for offences relating to false election results and perjury.
It also referenced recent controversy surrounding INEC Chairman Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, SAN, over allegations linking him to a partisan social media account, which INEC denied.
“These cases do not imply that academics are inherently dishonest. They simply demonstrate that professional status cannot replace robust safeguards, transparent selection criteria, and strict conflict of interest rules,” the statement said.
The group warned that even if an officer acts honestly, deploying a professor who has publicly endorsed a candidate to collate results involving that candidate could fuel allegations of manipulation, litigation and protests.
Ahead of the elections, CHRICED demanded clarification from INEC on the criteria for selecting Returning and Collation Officers.
They also demanded the exclusion of politically exposed academics with recent partisan activities from sensitive result management roles
They sought the application of uniform standards nationwide in the selection process and transparent conflict of interest guidelines requiring disclosure of recent political endorsements and appointments
Further more, CHRICED demanded Active monitoring by civil society and the media of the recruitment and deployment of electoral officers
They sought public accountability for political actors who attempt to mobilise individuals likely to occupy sensitive electoral positions as well as close monitoring by international observers including the UN, EU, Commonwealth Observer Group, African Union and ECOWAS
“The integrity of an election is protected not only by preventing manipulation, but also by ensuring that those entrusted with the votes are demonstrably independent and visibly impartial,” the statement said.
COURTESY: thesun.ng
