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By Goli Innocent
Former Resident Electoral Commissioner Mike Igini has called on President Bola Tinubu to withhold assent to the recently passed Electoral Act (Repeal and Re-Enactment) Bill, 2026, warning that key provisions in the law could undermine Nigeria’s democratic gains ahead of the 2027 elections.
Speaking on Arise Television on Wednesday, Igini described the version of the bill presented for presidential assent as deeply problematic, urging the president to consider its broader implications before signing.
“What is put before you? Please take it back,” he said, characterising the current bill as “a recipe for chaos.”
Addressing the historical importance of credible elections, Igini appealed directly to Tinubu’s sense of democratic legacy.
“How many times in the past did we see election outcomes determined by the will of the people at the ballot box, not by state power?” he asked, insisting that endorsing a flawed law could undo past progress.
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A major sticking point for Igini is the omission of mandatory real-time electronic transmission of polling unit results.
He warned that existing loopholes “worked against serving lawmakers” in previous elections and stressed that “mandatory real-time electronic transmission of polling unit results is essential to restoring public confidence.”
Igini’s intervention comes amid a broader national debate over the differences between the Senate and House versions of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, particularly the controversial provisions on result transmission and transparency.
Critics argue that weakening transmission safeguards would erode accountability and public trust.
His appeal has already resonated beyond legal circles, with youth organisations and civil society voices also urging that any final electoral law must prioritise transparency, credibility and fairness ahead of Nigeria’s general elections in 2027.
