THE CENTRE for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) has called for the resignation of the Director-General and 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.
In a statement Saturday, and signed by its Executive Director, Engr. Y.Z. Ya’u, the organisation said the dual roles raise serious concerns about conflict of interest, institutional neutrality and the protection of Nigerians’ sensitive personal data.
CITAD 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 citizens.
According to the organisation, the sensitivity of the database makes the integrity, confidentiality and political neutrality of NIMC a matter of national security and public trust.
CITAD argued that Coker-Odusote’s simultaneous responsibility as head of NIMC and a senior data official in the campaign structure of a political party creates what it described as an “untenable” institutional conflict.
CITAD said the concern was particularly significant as Nigeria approaches the 2027 general elections, when political parties are expected to increasingly rely on personal data for voter engagement, political profiling, digital targeting and campaign communication.
“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 said.
The organisation, however, clarified that it was not alleging that NIMC data had been transferred to the APC or that Coker-Odusote had misused citizens’ personal information. Rather, it said its objection centred on the institutional conflict, the perception of partisan influence and the potential erosion of public confidence in NIMC’s neutrality.
It posed a central question over 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 the political neutrality of the commission.
CITAD maintained that public institutions must remain impartial and sufficiently separated from partisan political activities.
The organisation therefore called on Coker-Odusote to immediately resign from the APC Presidential Campaign Council.
It added that if she chooses to retain her partisan campaign position, she should relinquish her position as NIMC Director-General.
Beyond the resignation demand, CITAD urged the Federal Government and relevant oversight institutions to put safeguards in place to prevent NIMC databases, systems and personnel from being used for partisan political purposes.
It also called for clear institutional boundaries between NIMC’s statutory responsibilities and political campaign activities, as well as stronger protections against the political profiling, exploitation or unauthorised use of Nigerians’ personal data.
The organisation further urged political parties and candidates to commit to responsible, lawful and transparent use of personal data throughout the 2027 electoral cycle.
CITAD said its PAWSOM-Monitor initiative would play a role in monitoring potential violations of data protection and digital rights as the country moves towards the 2027 elections.
According to the group, the initiative is also designed to monitor the extent to which political parties and candidates have unhindered access to national digital infrastructure before, during and immediately after elections.
CITAD said the monitoring framework had already been piloted during the recent Osun State governorship election.
It added that the perceived conflict arising from Coker-Odusote’s dual roles would remain a central issue in its election observation activities.
“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.
The group reiterated that its demand was aimed at protecting the integrity of NIMC, safeguarding public confidence in Nigeria’s national identity infrastructure and upholding the principle of political neutrality in the management of citizens’ identity data.
