Don’t use partisan academics as returning officers in 2027 – ADC warns INEC

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to name academics who person openly taken partisan governmental positions arsenic Returning and Collation Officers for the 2027 wide elections.

The enactment made the telephone successful a connection issued connected Monday by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi.

The ADC said its request followed reports that much than 600 elder lecturers from nationalist universities successful Northern Nigeria had endorsed President Bola Tinubu for the 2027 statesmanlike election.

While acknowledging that academics person the law close to enactment immoderate governmental candidate, the enactment argued that those who publically endorse a campaigner should not beryllium allowed to oversee predetermination results involving that candidate.

“You cannot run for a campaigner and past beryllium entrusted with counting the votes and declaring winners successful the aforesaid predetermination that your campaigner is contesting in,” the enactment said.

The ADC said the concern raised concerns astir electoral credibility and struggle of involvement due to the fact that assemblage lecturers and vice-chancellors are often appointed by INEC to collate results and declare...