By Akpos Oghenetega,
A former Resident Electoral Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Mike Igini, has described the Electoral Act (Repeal and Re-Enactment) Bill 2026 as “a recipe for chaos,” warning that its provisions could trigger confusion and weaken electoral credibility.
Igini, who spoke during an interview on ARISE Television, raised concerns over Clause 60 of the legislation, particularly the fallback allowance for manual collation where electronic transmission fails.
According to him, unresolved ambiguities surrounding electronic transmission remain a critical risk factor in Nigeria’s electoral framework.
“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,” Igini said, while reflecting on the country’s democratic evolution.
He recalled the dynamics that shaped the 2015 general elections, stressing the primacy of voters’ will.
“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,” he stated.
The Senate had earlier passed the Electoral Act 2022 (Repeal and Re-Enactment) Bill 2026 after tense deliberations that exposed divisions among lawmakers.
Debate during plenary centred on Clause 60(3), with Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe pushing for a division and proposing that manually collated forms should not serve as a substitute where electronic transmission fails.
Following a vote, 55 senators supported the proviso, while 15 opposed it.
Igini also turned attention to the judiciary, describing it as a crucial pillar in safeguarding democratic processes, while acknowledging persistent public scepticism.
“The greatest option that we have is the judiciary that must stand tall and mighty in defence of democracy and the rule of law. Were it not for the judiciary, we would not be where we are today,” he said.
However, he criticised what he described as inconsistent judicial outcomes in election-related disputes.
“I have all the records of failures. When it comes to elections, the judiciary has not done well. In fact, the Nigerian people now see my constituency as a veritable conspiracy against them because they have never given effect to it,” Igini added.
He further faulted recent legislative adjustments, noting that earlier proposals mandating real-time electronic transmission were weakened during the amendment process.
“Look at what has happened… Today, there is no primary in Nigeria because the Supreme Court struck down the party direction that was issued in line with Section 29 of the Act,” he said.
Igini reiterated that legal clarity, institutional discipline, and strict enforcement of due process remain central to strengthening Nigeria’s democracy.
“The way forward is for the judiciary to stand tall and mighty in defence of due process because what we are seeing now is not what is expected,” he stated.
