Ex-INEC Official Asks Tinubu to Reject Electoral Bill

A former Resident Electoral Commissioner with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mike Igini, has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to decline assent to the Electoral Act (Repeal and Re-Enactment) Bill 2026.

Igini warned that certain provisions could destabilise Nigeria’s democratic process.

Speaking on Arise Television on Wednesday, Igini described the legislation, recently passed by the Senate, as potentially disruptive, particularly regarding amendments to Clause 60 on the electronic transmission of election results.

He urged the president to reflect on his long-standing role in Nigeria’s political evolution and to return the bill to the National Assembly rather than sign it into law. 

Igini recalled the 2015 general election period, arguing that it was the will of the electorate, not state power, that ultimately shaped the outcome, and that this principle must be preserved.

“It is indeed my humble recommendation to Mr President that you are a man of history. You were a senior man to very many of us in the struggle at the time when the journey of Nigeria and the prospect of democracy was less certain,” he said.

“And also remember that, at a time when the PDP was in office and when we were in office, and they were saying that there was going to be a federal might, some of us stood out to say no.

“In 2015, it’s going to be the might of people, not federal might, but the might of the people through the ballot that should determine what will happen.

“You should be a man of history, what is put before you take it back, don’t sign it,” Igini said.

Igini also turned his criticism toward the judiciary, asserting that the courts have not consistently safeguarded voters’ interests in electoral matters.

While acknowledging the judiciary’s historical role in sustaining democracy, he argued that its record in election adjudication has fallen short of public expectations, contributing to growing public distrust.

He further faulted lawmakers for altering provisions that previously made real-time electronic transmission of polling unit results mandatory. 

He maintained that the survival of Nigeria’s democracy depends on strict adherence to due process and a judiciary willing to firmly uphold the rule of law.

The Senate approved the revised bill on Tuesday following a heated debate. During plenary, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe called for a formal vote on Clause 60(3), opposing a provision that would allow manual collation of results if electronic transmission fails.

After voting, 55 senators supported retaining the clause, while 15 voted against it.