By Destiny Obinna
The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has challenged the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, to explain the reported redeployment of key officials in the commission, warning that the changes could raise questions about its neutrality ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a press statement signed by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Nnadozie Onwubiko, HURIWA called on INEC to disclose the criteria used in the appointments and redeployments, particularly those affecting its Electoral Operations and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) departments.
The association said the reported changes required clarification to prevent suspicions of political interference from undermining public confidence in the electoral process.
At the centre of the controversy is the reported redeployment of Isah Magaji Gummi, formerly Director of Electoral Operations, to the Voter Registry Department, while Oluyemi Titilayo Adeyemi-Showunmi, previously the administrative secretary of INEC’s Lagos office, was reportedly assigned to head Electoral Operations.
HURIWA questioned the appointment in view of reports that Adeyemi-Showunmi’s husband, Otunba Segun Showunmi, a Peoples Democratic Party chieftain, had publicly expressed support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid.
“Why should INEC assign a woman whose husband reportedly supports President Tinubu’s re-election bid to head Electoral Operations, one of the most sensitive departments in the commission? This decision raises legitimate questions that Professor Amupitan must urgently answer,” the association said.
However, HURIWA stressed that it was not declaring Adeyemi-Showunmi compromised because of her husband’s political affiliations, insisting that the issue was the need to address any potential perception of a conflict of interest.
The group maintained that INEC should explain the basis for the appointment and demonstrate that competence, due process and institutional independence guided its decisions.
“HURIWA finds these reported redeployments ominous and suspicious. INEC must not allow unanswered questions about its internal arrangements to erode Nigerians’ confidence in the 2027 elections,” the statement added.
The association also raised concerns over the reported leadership of INEC’s ICT Department by Dr Lawrence Bayode, whom reports have identified as an official from the South-West.
It argued that the reported placement of officials from the President’s region in strategically important departments could generate further questions unless the commission provided clear explanations for its choices.
HURIWA called on Amupitan to explain why Gummi was moved from Electoral Operations, disclose the criteria for appointing Adeyemi-Showunmi and clarify the safeguards in place to prevent political considerations from influencing appointments to sensitive positions.
The association emphasised that the Electoral Operations Department plays a critical role in election administration, including the distribution of election materials, recruitment and training of ad hoc personnel, polling arrangements and the supervision of collation processes.
It also noted that the ICT Department was central to technology-driven electoral procedures, making transparency in its leadership and operations essential to public confidence.
According to HURIWA, INEC should address the concerns before political activities intensify, rather than wait until parties and voters begin raising questions during the election period.
The group further backed former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar’s reported call for INEC to explain the redeployments and disclose arrangements for the production, printing and custody of sensitive election materials.
Atiku had also called on the commission to publish the criteria guiding appointments and redeployments and demonstrate that due process, merit and safeguards against political interference were being observed.
HURIWA said it agreed that concerns about institutional neutrality must be distinguished from unsubstantiated allegations of electoral manipulation.
It also cautioned against assuming that an official was compromised solely because of ethnicity, regional origin or personal associations, stressing that allegations of political interference required verifiable evidence.
Nevertheless, the association insisted that INEC had a responsibility to answer legitimate questions about its internal arrangements and demonstrate its independence from the Presidency, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and other political interests.
“INEC must come clean. Nigerians deserve an electoral commission that inspires confidence through its decisions and actions. Professor Amupitan must explain these reported redeployments and demonstrate that no political interest can influence the commission’s preparations for the 2027 elections,” HURIWA said.
The association urged opposition political parties, civil society organisations and other stakeholders to pursue their demands for transparency through lawful and democratic means.
It warned that failure to address concerns over the appointments could fuel avoidable suspicion as preparations for the 2027 general elections gather momentum.
HURIWA, however, maintained that its demand for explanations should not be interpreted as a declaration that electoral manipulation had occurred, but as a call for accountability and transparency from an institution entrusted with managing the country’s elections.
