The Conference of Nigeria Political Parties has warned the Independent National Electoral Commission, lecturers, senior academic officers in Nigerian universities, and political parties against any attempt to compromise the 2027 elections.

CNPP’s spokesperson, James Ezema, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, following the reported endorsement of President Bola Tinubu for re-election by over 600 senior academics from public universities in Northern Nigeria, at a meeting in Kaduna, by the president’s special adviser on political matters, Ibrahim Masari.

The CNPP is worried that the reported endorsement came as INEC began recruiting ad hoc officers for the 2027 elections, creating the possibility that people who have openly declared support for a candidate might be appointed to such sensitive electoral positions.

The umbrella body of registered political parties and political associations in Nigeria urged the Joash Amupitan-led INEC to clarify if any of the academics who endorsed Mr Tinubu have applied for, been nominated, screened or considered for any INEC electoral assignment in 2027, while also demanding an independent verification of public political endorsements and other partisan activities before appointing them.

“What documentary standards INEC will use to determine whether an applicant has ‘openly expressed support for any candidate’ within the meaning of Section 27 of the Electoral Act 2022? Whether the commission will publish, sufficiently ahead of the elections, the names and relevant institutional affiliations of persons appointed to sensitive collation and result-declaration positions, subject to applicable privacy and security requirements.

“Whether INEC will provide a transparent mechanism through which political parties, civil society organisations and other stakeholders can submit verifiable objections concerning the eligibility or neutrality of proposed electoral personnel,” CNPP stated.  

The coalition also sought to know whether INEC “has established an independent verification process for candidates whose public statements, political activities or affiliations may raise questions under Section 27 of the Electoral Act” and whether it “will publish the applicable guidelines distinguishing ordinary ad hoc polling personnel from collation and returning officers, including their respective qualifications, recruitment channels and screening procedures”.

“Whether any government ministry, political office-holder, political party, support group or other external organisation has any role whatsoever in identifying, recommending, screening or influencing persons to be considered for electoral appointments,” said CNPP.

The CNPP also called on universities and their governing authorities to exercise caution when nominating academic staff for election-related duties, noting that electoral neutrality must be protected just like academic freedom and political rights.