The Director-General of the Bureau of Public Procurement, Dr. Adebowale Adedokun, has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to strengthen its procurement systems to protect the integrity of elections in Nigeria.
Adedokun made the call during a capacity-building programme for national electoral commissioners and INEC management on Monday in Lagos.
The workshop was organised by INEC with support from the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung.
He said credible elections depend on sound procurement, describing it as central to public trust and national stability.
βElections are not just eventsβthey are the foundation upon which public trust and national stability are built.
And at the centre of credible elections lies procurement. When procurement goes right, nobody notices.
But when procurement goes wrong, the entire nation feels it. This is why procurement is not a back-office function; it is a national security function,β he said.
Adedokun noted that procurement reforms align with government policies to strengthen institutions and restore public confidence.
βProcurement sits right at the centre of this transformation, enabling fair competition and public scrutiny.
As transparency deepens, public trust grows, competition improves, and legitimacy is strengthened,β he said.
He added that reforms anchored on transparency, competition, efficiency, and digital transformation have saved over N1.1 trillion through price intelligence.
βProcurement must deliver the right goods, of the right quality, at the right time and price.
Technology is no longer optional; it is foundational to accountability and efficiency,β he said.
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Adedokun also highlighted the importance of capacity building, noting that over 2,700 officers have been certified under the National Procurement Certification Programme.
βA procurement system cannot outperform the people who operate it. Building strong systems requires sustained investment in skills and ethical standards,β he said.
He warned that technology procurement risks, vendor dependency, and supply chain disruptions could undermine elections if not addressed.
βTechnology has transformed elections, but it has also introduced new vulnerabilities.
Technology must strengthen democracyβnot endanger it,β he said, adding that reliance on single vendors threatens institutional independence.
Adedokun stressed the need for supply chain resilience, early planning, supplier diversification, and stronger local manufacturing to mitigate risks.
He urged INEC to prioritise transparency and discipline in procurement processes to maintain credibility.
βTransparent procurement builds trust. Reliable technology builds confidence.
This is what Nigerians expect and what the future requires.
Every election is a test of the systems behind it. When we get procurement right, history remembers success,β he said.