Coalition Dismisses Allegations as Politically Motivated, Cites Career Appointments and Electoral Technology

By Chioma Vivian/Abuja.

The Coalition for Renewed Hope has dismissed allegations that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has positioned loyalists within the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to manipulate the 2027 general election, describing the claims as politically motivated and calling for evidence to support the accusations.

The National Coordinator of the coalition, Comrade James Okoronkwo, made the position known in a statement defending the professional background of INEC officials whose appointments and redeployments have reportedly attracted public scrutiny.

According to him, allegations of a plan to compromise the electoral process should not be accepted without verifiable evidence, insisting that the commission’s administrative structure, technical operations and electoral safeguards must be considered in assessing claims of political interference.

INEC APPOINTMENTS: COALITION DEFENDS CAREER OFFICIALS

Okoronkwo argued that the officials being mentioned in the allegations, Mrs Oluyemi Titilayo Adeyemi-Showunmi, associated with Electoral Operations, and Dr Lawrence Bayode, associated with Information and Communication Technology (ICT), are career professionals rather than political appointees.

He maintained that their careers in INEC predate Tinubu’s presidency and argued that their advancement should be assessed against the commission’s established administrative procedures.

The coalition coordinator further claimed that the officials’ promotions were based on seniority and performance through the appropriate institutional channels, rather than political considerations.

He challenged those alleging deliberate political placements to provide evidence demonstrating that the appointments were intended to influence the outcome of the 2027 elections.

INEC’S LEADERSHIP AND THE QUESTION OF INDEPENDENCE

The statement also pointed to the geographical background of INEC’s leadership as part of its argument against allegations of a regional political agenda.

Okoronkwo referenced INEC Chairman Professor Joash Amupitan, SAN, whom he described as a legal academic from Kogi State in North-Central Nigeria.

He argued that the chairman’s background should form part of the broader public discussion about the commission’s independence, while maintaining that the credibility of electoral leadership ultimately depends on institutional safeguards, impartiality and transparent conduct.

However, geographical origin alone does not establish an electoral body’s independence. Public confidence depends on demonstrable impartiality, adherence to the law and the commission’s ability to resist political pressure.

ELECTORAL OPERATIONS AND ICT UNDER SCRUTINY

Addressing concerns about the Electoral Operations and ICT departments, Okoronkwo said the two units perform technical and administrative functions that support the conduct of elections.

He explained that Electoral Operations handles essential logistical arrangements, while ICT supports the technological infrastructure used in voter accreditation and the electronic transmission and display of election-related information.

The coalition maintained that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), party agents, election observers and other monitoring mechanisms provide safeguards against electoral manipulation.

It also argued that the visibility of election procedures and the availability of electronic result information make it necessary to examine specific evidence before concluding that individual officials have been positioned to rig an election.

Nevertheless, the effectiveness of these safeguards depends on their implementation, compliance with electoral laws and the transparent resolution of any irregularities that may arise.

ROUTINE REDEPLOYMENT OR POLITICAL INTERFERENCE?

The coalition also defended the redeployment of electoral officials between states, describing such transfers as administrative measures intended to promote impartiality and prevent excessive familiarity with local political interests.

Okoronkwo cited the reported redeployment of Mrs Adenike Tadese from Ondo State to Lagos State and the appointment of Mrs Temitayo Adelusi to Ondo State as examples of personnel movements that, in his view, should not automatically be interpreted as evidence of a political plot.

He argued that administrative transfers must be evaluated on their merits and supported by evidence before allegations of electoral manipulation can be sustained.

The statement attributed to former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar concerns about the redeployments and accused him of interpreting routine administrative decisions as evidence of political interference.

However, determining whether a particular transfer is routine or politically motivated requires examining the applicable procedures, the circumstances of the decision and any supporting evidence.

TECHNOLOGY, TRANSPARENCY AND PUBLIC CONFIDENCE

On the use of electoral technology, Okoronkwo argued that the continued deployment of BVAS and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) demonstrates the importance of technology in promoting electoral transparency.

He also claimed that the Tinubu administration had supported INEC’s operations and electoral preparations.

The coalition further cited figures concerning new voter registrations and youth-focused electoral initiatives as evidence of efforts to strengthen participation.

Such claims, however, require confirmation through official INEC records and relevant government budget documents to establish the scale and impact of the reported initiatives.

While technology can improve transparency, its presence alone cannot guarantee a credible election. Effective safeguards also require reliable infrastructure, transparent procedures, independent scrutiny and prompt investigation of complaints.

2027: THE CHALLENGE OF CREDIBILITY

As political activities gather momentum ahead of the 2027 general election, the debate over INEC’s independence is likely to remain central to public confidence in the electoral process.

Okoronkwo accused opposition politicians of raising allegations about electoral manipulation before the elections and suggested that such claims could be intended to undermine confidence in the commission.

He particularly criticised Atiku Abubakar’s position, alleging that the former vice-president was using the controversy for political advantage. These remain the coalition’s interpretations of the opposition’s motives and are not, in themselves, proof of wrongdoing by either side.

The statement concluded with a call on Nigerians to reject what the coalition described as unsubstantiated allegations and to assess the electoral process on the basis of verifiable evidence.

For the 2027 elections, the central test will be whether INEC can demonstrate independence, apply electoral rules consistently, protect the integrity of the voting and result-management processes, and provide credible mechanisms for addressing complaints.

Ultimately, public confidence will depend not simply on assurances from political actors but on the transparency and credibility of the electoral process itself.

Comrade James Okoronkwo
National Coordinator
Coalition for Renewed Hope