Human rights lawyer Chidi Anselm Odinkalu has questioned the reported appointment of Oluyemi Titilayo Adeyemi-Showunmi, wife of political figure Segun Showunmi, to head the Electoral Operations Department of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Odinkalu raised the issue in a post on X, expressing concern over the appointment as preparations for the next general election gather momentum.

“Oh, so @SegunShowunmi’s wife is now in charge of electoral operations in @inecnigeria? It is becoming clearer….!” he wrote.

The former chairman of the National Human Rights Commission did not elaborate on what he meant by the statement or accuse Adeyemi-Showunmi of any wrongdoing.

Reports indicate that Adeyemi-Showunmi, who previously served as administrative secretary of INEC’s Lagos office, was redeployed to the commission’s headquarters in Abuja to head the Electoral Operations Department.

Isah Magaji Gummi, who previously occupied the position, was reportedly moved to the Voter Registry Department as part of the personnel changes.

The Electoral Operations Department is responsible for key aspects of election administration, including logistics, the deployment of electoral materials and coordination of operational arrangements for elections.

Its leadership is therefore considered important to preparations for the 2027 polls.

Adeyemi-Showunmi is married to Segun Showunmi, a political commentator who served as spokesperson for former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar’s 2019 presidential campaign.

The reported appointment has attracted calls for INEC to explain the criteria used in making changes to key positions within the commission.

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has also urged INEC Chairman Joash Amupitan to clarify the reasons for the personnel changes.

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has separately called for greater transparency regarding appointments and other administrative decisions ahead of the 2027 elections.

However, the reported marital relationship between Adeyemi-Showunmi and Segun Showunmi does not, by itself, establish political interference or misconduct.

INEC’s explanation of the basis for the appointment and the professional criteria applied would help address concerns about transparency and public confidence in the electoral process.

The controversy comes as attention increasingly turns to the commission’s preparations for the 2027 general elections and the need to maintain confidence in the impartial administration of the polls.