The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) has raised concerns over the appointment of the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Dr. Bisoye Coker-Odusote, as Director of Data Management in the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council for the 2027 elections.
CITAD said the development raised questions about institutional neutrality, conflict of interest and the protection of citizens’ personal and biometric data ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a statement signed by its Executive Director, YZ Ya’u, the organisation described NIMC as a sensitive national institution responsible for establishing, owning, operating, maintaining and managing Nigeria’s National Identity Database, which contains personal and biometric information of millions of Nigerians.
It said the integrity, confidentiality and political neutrality of the national identity infrastructure were matters of national security and public trust.
According to CITAD, the simultaneous roles of heading NIMC while serving as a senior data official for a partisan presidential campaign create a potential conflict of interest and could undermine public confidence in the neutrality of the identity management institution.
The organisation noted that political parties were expected to increasingly rely on personal data for voter engagement, political profiling, digital targeting and campaign communication as the 2027 elections approach.
CITAD argued that an individual responsible for managing data for one political party should not simultaneously head an institution entrusted with sensitive identity data belonging to Nigerians across political affiliations.
The organisation, however, stressed that it was not alleging that NIMC data had been transferred to the APC or that Coker-Odusote had misused citizens’ information.
“CITAD is not alleging that NIMC data has been transferred to the APC or that Dr. Coker-Odusote has misused citizens’ information,” the organisation said, explaining that its concern centred on the institutional conflict, perception of partisan influence and possible erosion of public trust.
CITAD questioned whether the head of Nigeria’s national identity institution could simultaneously serve as a senior data official of a partisan presidential campaign while retaining unquestionable public confidence in NIMC’s political neutrality.
The organisation maintained that public institutions should 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 that if she chose to retain the campaign position, she should relinquish her position as Director-General of NIMC.
The organisation also urged the Federal Government and relevant oversight institutions to guarantee that NIMC databases, systems and personnel would not be used for partisan political purposes.
It called for clear safeguards to separate NIMC’s statutory responsibilities from political campaign activities and urged authorities to strengthen protections against political profiling, exploitation or unauthorised use of Nigerians’ personal data.
CITAD further called on all political parties and candidates to commit to responsible, lawful and transparent use of personal data during the 2027 elections.
The organisation said its PAWSOM-Monitor initiative was designed to promote a fair, safe and rights-respecting digital environment by monitoring potential data-protection and digital-rights violations.
According to CITAD, the initiative has also been deployed ahead of the 2027 elections to monitor the potential misuse of personal data for electoral purposes and assess the extent to which political parties and candidates have unhindered access to national digital infrastructure before, during and immediately after elections.
It said the initiative was piloted during the recent Osun State governorship election.
CITAD said the alleged conflict of interest arising from Coker-Odusote’s dual roles would form part of the issues monitored under its election observation activities.
The organisation reiterated its call for Coker-Odusote to 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 the national identity management system, safeguard public confidence and uphold the principle of political neutrality in the management of Nigeria’s national identity infrastructure.