A former Resident Electoral Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Mike Igini, has cautioned that the proposed Electoral Act (Repeal and Re-Enactment) Bill 2026 could undermine Nigeria’s electoral credibility if passed in its current form.
Speaking during an interview on ARISE Television, Igini described the bill as potentially destabilising, pointing specifically to Clause 60, which permits manual collation of results where electronic transmission fails. He warned that ambiguities surrounding electronic transmission remain a major vulnerability in Nigeria’s electoral system.
Igini urged the President to reflect on Nigeria’s democratic journey, recalling the significance of the 2015 general elections and the central role of voters’ choice in shaping the outcome. According to him, the elections demonstrated that the will of the electorate, not state influence, should determine leadership.
The concerns come after the Senate passed the repeal and re-enactment bill following heated deliberations that exposed divisions among lawmakers. Debate focused heavily on Clause 60(3), with Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe leading opposition to provisions allowing manually collated results to substitute electronic transmission failures. A vote during plenary saw 55 senators support the clause, while 15 opposed it.
Igini also weighed in on the role of the judiciary, describing it as a critical safeguard for democracy but noting that public confidence remains fragile. While acknowledging past contributions by the courts, he expressed concern over what he called inconsistent rulings in election-related disputes.
He further criticised recent legal developments, arguing that earlier reforms aimed at enforcing real-time electronic transmission were diluted during the amendment process. He cited a Supreme Court decision that nullified party directives tied to Section 29 of the current Electoral Act as an example of setbacks affecting electoral reforms.
Igini concluded by stressing that Nigeria’s democratic future depends on legal clarity, institutional discipline, and firm adherence to due process. He called on the judiciary to assert its independence and restore public trust by upholding the rule of law in electoral matters.
