The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) has called on the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Dr Bisoye Coker-Odusote, to resign from an alleged role in the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council ahead of the 2027 general elections.
CITAD made the call in a statement signed by its Executive Director, Y.Z. Ya’u, on Saturday, expressing concern over Coker-Odusote’s reported appointment as Director of Data Management in the APC campaign council.
The organisation said the reported appointment could create a conflict of interest because NIMC manages Nigeria’s National Identity Database, which contains the personal and biometric information of millions of Nigerians.
According to CITAD, the sensitivity of the database makes the political neutrality, security and confidentiality of NIMC’s operations critical to maintaining public confidence.
CITAD stressed that it was not alleging that NIMC data had been transferred to the APC or that Coker-Odusote had misused citizens’ personal information.
Rather, it said its concern centred on what it described as the potential institutional conflict and perception of partisan influence arising from simultaneously heading NIMC and managing data for a political campaign.
“As Nigeria approaches the 2027 general elections, political parties will increasingly rely on personal data for voter engagement, political profiling, digital targeting and campaign communication,” the organisation said.
It argued that the individual responsible for managing data for a political party should not simultaneously head an institution entrusted with the identity information of Nigerians.
CITAD therefore urged Coker-Odusote to step down from the reported APC campaign role or, alternatively, relinquish her position as NIMC Director-General if she intends to remain involved in partisan campaign activities.
The organisation also called on the Federal Government and relevant oversight agencies to guarantee that NIMC databases, systems and personnel would not be used for partisan political purposes.
It further advocated stronger safeguards separating NIMC’s statutory responsibilities from political campaign activities and measures to prevent the unauthorised use of Nigerians’ personal data for political profiling.
CITAD also urged political parties and candidates participating in the 2027 elections to commit to the lawful, responsible and transparent use of personal information.
The organisation said its PAWSOM-Monitor initiative had been deployed to track potential misuse of personal data for electoral purposes and assess whether political parties and candidates have equitable access to national digital infrastructure before, during and immediately after elections.
According to CITAD, the initiative was piloted during the recent Osun State governorship election and will form part of its monitoring activities ahead of the 2027 general elections.
It reiterated that addressing the alleged conflict of interest was necessary to protect NIMC’s institutional integrity, maintain public confidence and uphold political neutrality in the management of Nigeria’s national identity infrastructure.
Never miss a moment! Get the stories shaping Nigeria, delivered straight to your phone. Follow Peoplesdaily Newspaper on WhatsApp for breaking news, exclusive reports, and the headlines everyone will be talking about, before anyone else.
