Former INEC official warns of 'dangerous' electoral law provisions
Former INEC official Mike Igini has raised concerns over 'dangerous' provisions in the Electoral Act 2026 that could undermine 2027 general elections credibility. Igini, who served as Akwa Ibom State's Resident Electoral Commissioner until 2022, identified three critical sections that reintroduce loopholes previously exploited for electoral manipulation.
Section 63 grants excessive discretion to electoral officers in accepting ballot papers without official security features, allowing presiding officers to count ballots if they're 'satisfied' it originated from the appropriate ballot book. He notes this same wording took 12 years to repeal due to its susceptibility to abuse.
Sections 138(2) and 137 further limit grounds for challenging election results and shield electoral officials from direct accountability, respectively. Igini warns that these provisions recreate protection mechanisms that previously allowed ad hoc staff to take bribes with impunity, as politicians told them they wouldn't face prosecution.
The former INEC official, who successfully prosecuted two professors for falsifying results in 2019, is calling for urgent amendments before the 2027 elections to prevent erosion of public trust in Nigeria's electoral system.