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By Beifoh Osewele
Former Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mike Igini, has warned that growing political intimidation, threats against opposition figures and the failure of authorities to enforce electoral laws could undermine the credibility of the 2027 general elections.
Igini, who also linked Nigeria’s persistent economic difficulties to weaknesses in its political system, maintained that the country could not achieve meaningful economic recovery without first addressing the abuse of political power, disregard for democratic freedoms and failure of public institutions to uphold the rule of law.
Speaking in a television interview yesterday, the former electoral commissioner expressed concern that political actors were increasingly being subjected to threats and restrictions, despite constitutional and statutory provisions guaranteeing their rights to organise, campaign and seek public office.
He argued that Nigeria’s greatest electoral challenge was no longer the absence of laws to regulate political conduct but the unwillingness or inability of relevant authorities to enforce them. “The laws are no longer enforced. That is my greatest worry about this election.”
Igini warned that the growing tendency to substitute the wishes of powerful individuals for the rule of law posed a danger to democratic competition, particularly as political parties intensified preparations for the January 16, 2027 presidential and National Assembly elections.
According to him, democracy cannot thrive where political opponents are intimidated, citizens are pressured to support particular candidates or security agencies fail to protect lawful political activities.
Igini drew attention to provisions of the Electoral Act requiring commissioners of police to provide adequate security for political rallies and processions, stressing that the law was designed to guarantee political participation rather than allow authorities to determine which parties could campaign.
He condemned attempts to compel citizens to support particular parties or candidates, describing such conduct as a violation of the democratic freedoms Nigerians had struggled to secure.
The former commissioner maintained that respect for political rights must extend beyond election day, arguing that intimidation during campaigns could compromise the credibility of the entire electoral process long before voters arrived at polling units.
He also linked the quality of Nigeria’s political institutions to its economic prospects, stressing that economic reforms could not deliver sustainable results in an environment characterised by weak accountability and disregard for the law.
Igini argued that credible political processes were fundamental to public confidence, investment and national development, insisting that efforts to address economic hardship must be accompanied by reforms that strengthen democratic institutions.
Beyond political intimidation, he raised concerns about the recruitment and deployment of personnel responsible for conducting elections, alleging that politicians were infiltrating institutions from which INEC sourced some of its ad hoc staff.
“What happened is that politicians infiltrate those agencies. They infiltrate those agencies and create liability for the INEC itself as an institution,” he said.
Igini warned that the integrity of presiding officers and other election personnel was critical because irregularities at polling units could compromise the entire process, irrespective of the safeguards introduced at higher levels of result collation.
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“The most important staff that Nigeria should focus on will be the presiding officers,” he said.
“And so, at the heart of this election is the polling unit. That’s the key.”
He maintained that electoral technology alone could not guarantee credible elections unless the officials operating the system were accountable and protected from political interference.
The former electoral commissioner also questioned attempts to prevent political parties and candidates from publishing polling-unit results obtained through their agents, arguing that transparency was essential to public confidence in election outcomes.
“The argument that candidate political party cannot publicise their result is wholly incorrect,” he said.
He insisted that the electoral process should be open to scrutiny by political parties, journalists, civil society organisations and citizens, rather than being shielded from public examination.
“The call for openness and transparency can never be answered by secrecy,” Igini declared.
His concerns come as political parties prepare for the 2027 elections amid continuing disputes over candidates, campaign activities and the interpretation and enforcement of electoral laws.
Igini urged security agencies, electoral officials and political leaders to uphold their statutory responsibilities, warning that failure to protect lawful political participation could erode public confidence in the electoral process.
He also cautioned against the growing tendency for electoral disputes to be settled through prolonged litigation, stressing the importance of ensuring that votes were properly cast, counted and recorded at polling units.
According to him, the responsibility for credible elections extends beyond INEC to the judiciary, security agencies, political parties and candidates whose conduct could either strengthen or undermine democratic institutions.
“We have to be very careful, because the greatest promise of democracy is periodic election for peaceful transfer of power,” he said.
He warned that the 2027 elections would test the commitment of Nigeria’s institutions and political leadership to democratic accountability.
“The 2027 general elections will be more than a test. INEC will be judged, and officials, judiciary will be judged,” Igini said.
“More importantly, the politicians who are seeking for political office will be judged.”
