Stakeholders raise alarm over outsourcing of 2027 sensitive electoral materials

From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

Growing concerns have emerged over the management and security of ballot materials for Nigeria’s 2027 general elections, following allegations regarding the outsourcing of sensitive electoral documents by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The controversy gained momentum after former Vice President Atiku Abubakar urged INEC to disclose the contractors responsible for producing sensitive materials.

Atiku questioned reports suggesting that the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Plc (NSPMC) was contracted to print materials for only 15 to 17 states, leaving private contractors to handle the remainder.

He also asked the commission to clarify reports linking HiTech—a company linked to businessman Gilbert Chagoury in public discussions—to the printing contracts.

Addressing the issue in a commentary titled “2027 Elections: Who Controls The Ballots?”, political analyst Malama Zainab Abubakar noted that while the allegations have not established direct evidence of compromised materials or planned manipulation, they raise critical questions regarding ballot security, public procurement transparency, and institutional independence.

She emphasized that ballot papers and sensitive materials cannot be treated as standard commercial products, stressing the need for strict controls across production, serial numbering, storage, and distribution.

“If unauthorized copies were produced, materials diverted, security data compromised, or delivery records manipulated, the consequences could include widespread electoral disputes, voting delays, challenges to ballot authenticity, and eroded public confidence,” she warned.

Malama Abubakar argued that with multiple contractors involved, INEC must prove that all vendors operate under uniform security protocols and maintain end-to-end traceability. She added that while business ties between contractors and political figures do not automatically prove wrongdoing, INEC must verify whether proper procurement procedures were followed and ensure robust safeguards against improper influence.

To restore public trust, the commentary outlines six critical disclosures INEC should make: full names of all companies engaged to print sensitive materials, the specific materials and quantities assigned to each contractor, procurement methods, contract values, and selection criteria used, details on security clearances, independent audits, and chain-of-custody protocols, clarification on HiTech’s involvement and measures taken to address any conflict of interest, and contingency plans for potential contractor failure, missing materials, or unauthorized printing.

The commentary highlighted that while Sections 42 and 73(2) of the Electoral Act 2026 mandate strict formatting, serial numbering, and quantity tracking—and criminalize unauthorized handling—the law is only as effective as its enforcement.

“The integrity of an election does not begin at the polling unit.

“It begins much earlier, with the production of ballot papers, contractor selection, and the protection of sensitive information.

“INEC must demonstrate that all sensitive materials for 2027 will be fully authorized, secure, traceable, and free from improper influence,” the commentary concluded.