EC
A veteran election official, Mike Igini, has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to withhold assent to the newly passed Electoral Act 2026, describing it as capable of undermining Nigeria’s democratic process and sparking political instability.
Igini, a former Resident Electoral Commissioner with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), made his appeal during an interview on Arise Television following the contentious passage of the bill by the Senate.
He argued that the bill — particularly provisions under Clause 60 relating to electronic transmission of results — carries loopholes that could weaken transparency, disrupt credible vote tracking and compromise public confidence in elections if it becomes law.
“It is indeed my humble recommendation to Mr President that you are a man of history,” Igini said, urging Tinubu to reconsider the law before signing it. “What is put before you … is a recipe for chaos. Take it back, don’t sign it.”
The amendment stirred controversy after the National Assembly retained provisions allowing manual backup collation where electronic transmission fails — a point that critics say could open the door for manipulation and disputes in the 2027 elections.
Igini also lamented what he described as past judicial failures to uphold electoral accountability, warning that without robust legal safeguards, election disputes and mistrust could become even more pronounced.
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Oyetoke Adedayo Ebenezer
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