CITAD Demands NIMC DG’s Resignation Over APC Campaign Role

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 her position in the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council ahead of the 2027 general elections.

CITAD said Coker-Odusote’s appointment as Director of Data Management for the APC presidential campaign raises serious concerns about conflict of interest, institutional neutrality and the protection of Nigerians’ personal data.

In a statement signed by its Executive Director, Yunusa Zakari Ya’u, on Saturday, the organisation said NIMC is a highly sensitive national institution responsible for establishing, operating, maintaining and managing 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 integrity, confidentiality and political neutrality of NIMC a matter of national security and public trust.

The organisation argued that Coker-Odusote’s simultaneous role as head of NIMC and a senior data official in the campaign of a political party creates what it described as a “serious conflict of interest” and could undermine public confidence in the commission’s neutrality.

“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,” CITAD said.

“The person responsible for managing data for one political party should not, at the same time, head an institution entrusted with the sensitive identity data of all Nigerians.”

CITAD, however, stressed that it was not alleging that NIMC data had been transferred to the APC or that the NIMC director-general had misused citizens’ personal information.

Rather, the organisation said its concern was the potential institutional conflict, the perception of partisan influence and the possible erosion of public trust arising from the dual roles.

“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.

CITAD maintained that the situation was untenable and called for a clear separation between the management of Nigeria’s national identity infrastructure and partisan political activities.

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

Alternatively, it said she should relinquish her position as NIMC director-general if she chooses to retain the campaign appointment.

The organisation also called on the Federal Government and relevant oversight institutions to introduce safeguards to prevent the use of NIMC databases, systems and personnel for partisan political purposes.

Among other measures, CITAD urged the government to strengthen protections against political profiling, exploitation and unauthorised use of Nigerians’ personal data, while requiring political parties and candidates to commit to responsible, lawful and transparent data practices throughout the 2027 electoral process.

CITAD said its PAWSOM-Monitor initiative is already tracking potential data-protection and digital-rights violations ahead of the elections.

The organisation said the initiative is also monitoring whether political parties and candidates have equal and unhindered 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, with the alleged conflict of interest surrounding the NIMC director-general’s dual roles forming part of its election-observation concerns.

“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.

CITAD reiterated its call for Coker-Odusote to either resign from the APC campaign team or relinquish her position as head of NIMC, saying the step would help protect the integrity of the national identity institution, safeguard public confidence and uphold political neutrality in the management of Nigeria’s national identity.