Party says academics who publicly endorse candidates should not serve as Returning or Collation Officers in the 2027 presidential election

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to prevent university lecturers and other academics who have openly endorsed political candidates from serving as Returning or Collation Officers during the 2027 general elections.

The party’s demand followed reports that more than 600 senior lecturers from public universities across Northern Nigeria had endorsed President Bola Tinubu for the 2027 presidential election.

Reacting to the reported endorsement, ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said the development raised serious concerns about the neutrality of academics who could be selected to perform sensitive electoral duties.

In a statement issued on Monday, Abdullahi acknowledged that lecturers, like every other Nigerian, have a constitutional right to support candidates of their choice.

However, he argued that academics who publicly take sides in an election should not subsequently be given responsibility for collating results or declaring the winner of the same contest.

“While acknowledging the constitutional right of every Nigerian, including academics, to support or endorse any political candidate, no person who has openly taken a partisan position should subsequently be entrusted with determining the outcome of an election involving that candidate,” Abdullahi said.

“You cannot campaign for a candidate and then be entrusted with counting the votes and declaring winners in the same election that your candidate is contesting in.”

University lecturers and vice-chancellors have traditionally been among those recruited by INEC to serve in sensitive positions, including Returning and Collation Officers, because of their academic standing and perceived independence.

The ADC, however, said the credibility of the 2027 elections would depend not only on the conduct of voters and political parties but also on the neutrality of those responsible for handling election results.

The party urged INEC to develop and publish clear eligibility criteria for the appointment of election officials, including provisions that would exclude academics and other prospective officials who have publicly endorsed candidates or participated in partisan political activities.

The ADC also asked the electoral commission to make public the names of proposed Returning and Collation Officers well ahead of the elections.

According to the party, such disclosure would give political parties, civil society organisations and members of the public an opportunity to identify and raise concerns about potential conflicts of interest before election day.

“The integrity of an election does not begin when the first ballot is cast. It begins with the neutrality of the people entrusted to administer, collate, and declare its outcome,” the ADC said.

“Nigerians must never be placed in a position where those who have publicly chosen a side are subsequently presented as neutral arbiters of the contest.”

The call comes as political parties and potential presidential contenders begin preparations for the 2027 elections, with questions surrounding electoral transparency, the independence of election officials and public confidence expected to remain central to the political debate.

The ADC said ensuring that election officials are seen to be impartial is essential to protecting the credibility of the electoral process and preventing disputes over election results.