Destiny Ugorji
A former Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mike Igini, has urged President Bola Tinubu to decline assent to the recently passed Electoral Act (Repeal and Re-Enactment) Bill, 2026, warning that certain provisions in the proposed law could threaten Nigeria’s electoral credibility ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Igini raised the concerns during an interview on Arise Television on Wednesday, where he described the bill currently awaiting presidential approval as potentially damaging to the country’s democratic progress.
He called on the President to return the legislation for further review, stressing that signing the bill in its present form could undermine public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process.
According to the former electoral official, credible elections remain central to democratic stability, noting that the country has made significant progress in ensuring that election outcomes reflect the will of the electorate rather than the influence of state power.
Concerns Over Result Transmission
A major concern raised by Igini is the absence of provisions mandating real-time electronic transmission of polling unit results in the proposed legislation.
He warned that gaps in result transmission processes have historically created opportunities for electoral manipulation and weakened public trust in election outcomes. According to him, enforcing mandatory electronic transmission of results would strengthen transparency and improve the credibility of future elections.
Igini argued that the removal or weakening of such safeguards could reverse gains achieved in previous electoral reforms.
Growing Debate Over Electoral Reforms
The controversy surrounding the Electoral Act Amendment Bill has sparked widespread national debate, particularly over differences between the versions passed by the Senate and the House of Representatives. Key areas of contention include provisions relating to election result transmission and broader transparency mechanisms.
Several critics of the bill have expressed concern that weakening accountability measures could erode public trust in the electoral system, especially as preparations gradually begin for the 2027 general elections.
Igini’s position has also received support from some youth groups and civil society organisations, which have called for electoral reforms that prioritise openness, fairness and credibility. Many stakeholders have stressed that strengthening Nigeria’s electoral framework remains critical to sustaining democratic stability and public confidence in the country’s political process.