CITAD Calls For Resignation Of NIMC Director-General Over Appointment By APC Campaign Council | Sahara Reporters

According to CITAD, “The integrity, confidentiality and political neutrality of this infrastructure are therefore matters of national security and public trust.”

The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) has called for the resignation of the Director-General/Chief Executive Officer of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Dr. Bisoye Coker-Odusote, over her reported appointment as Director of Data Management in the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council for the 2027 elections.

CITAD, in a statement on Saturday expressed concerns that Coker-Odusote’s simultaneous role as head of Nigeria’s national identity management institution and a senior data official for a partisan political campaign could create a conflict of interest and undermine public confidence in the political neutrality of NIMC.

The organisation described NIMC as “a highly sensitive national institution” responsible for establishing, owning, operating, maintaining and managing Nigeria’s National Identity Database, which contains the personal and biometric information of millions of Nigerians.

According to CITAD, “The integrity, confidentiality and political neutrality of this infrastructure are therefore matters of national security and public trust.”

The organisation said the dual roles could create “a serious conflict of interest and an appearance of compromised neutrality”, particularly as political parties prepare for the 2027 general elections and increasingly rely on personal data for voter engagement, political profiling, digital targeting and campaign communication.

CITAD argued that an individual responsible for managing data for a political party should not simultaneously head an institution entrusted with the sensitive identity data of Nigerians across political affiliations.

However, the organisation clarified that it was not accusing NIMC or Coker-Odusote of transferring or misusing citizens’ data for the APC campaign.

“We are not alleging that NIMC data has been transferred to the APC or that Dr. Coker-Odusote has misused citizens’ information,” CITAD said.

“Our concern is about the institutional conflict, perception of partisan influence and erosion of public confidence that this arrangement creates.”

CITAD further questioned whether Coker-Odusote could maintain public confidence in NIMC’s neutrality while serving in a senior data management position within a presidential campaign council.

“The question Nigerians must ask is: Can the head of Nigeria’s national identity institution simultaneously serve as a senior data official of a partisan presidential campaign and still command unquestionable public confidence in the political neutrality of NIMC?” the organisation asked.

The group said the principles governing public service require government institutions to remain impartial and separate from partisan political activities.

It therefore called on Coker-Odusote to immediately resign from her position in the APC Presidential Campaign Council.

CITAD said, “If she chooses to retain the partisan campaign position, she should relinquish her position as Director-General of NIMC.”

Beyond the resignation demand, the organisation called on the Federal Government and relevant oversight institutions to put measures in place to protect NIMC’s infrastructure and prevent the use of national identity data for partisan political purposes.

It urged the government to “Guarantee that NIMC’s databases, systems and personnel will not be used for partisan political purposes,” while also establishing safeguards separating NIMC’s statutory responsibilities from political campaign activities.

CITAD also called for strong protection against the “political profiling, exploitation or unauthorised use of Nigerians’ personal data” and urged political parties and candidates to commit to the responsible, lawful and transparent use of personal data during the 2027 elections.

The organisation said its PAWSOM-Monitor initiative was established to promote a fair, safe and rights-respecting digital environment by monitoring potential data-protection and digital-rights violations.

According to CITAD, “As the country moves towards 2027, CITAD will continue to monitor developments that could undermine citizens’ digital rights or create an uneven digital playing field for political actors.”

The organisation said it had deployed the PAWSOM-Monitor ahead of the 2027 elections to track the misuse of personal data for electoral purposes and assess whether political parties and candidates have unhindered access to national digital infrastructure before, during and in the immediate post-election period.

CITAD said the initiative was piloted during the recent Osun State Governorship election, adding that the alleged conflict of interest involving Coker-Odusote formed a central part of its election observation.

“The conflict of interest presented by the dual roles of Dr. Busoye sits at the centre of our election observation,” the organisation said.

CITAD therefore reiterated its demand that Coker-Odusote either resign from the APC campaign team or relinquish her position as head of NIMC.

It said the step was necessary to protect the integrity of NIMC, safeguard public confidence and uphold the principle of political neutrality in the management of Nigeria’s national identity infrastructure.