Mike Igini urges President Bola Tinubu to withhold assent on the Electoral Act 2026, warning it may undermine Nigeria’s democracy

Mike Igini, former Resident Electoral Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission, has called on President Bola Tinubu to withhold assent on the Electoral Act (Repeal and Re-Enactment) Bill 2026, describing it as “a recipe for chaos” that could threaten Nigeria’s democratic process.

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Igini made the appeal on Wednesday, following the Senate’s passage of the bill, which included controversial provisions under Clause 60 on electronic transmission of election results.

“I humbly recommend to Mr President that you are a man of history. What is put before you, take it back; don’t sign it,” Igini said, urging Tinubu to consider lessons from Nigeria’s democratic struggles, particularly the 2015 elections.

He emphasised the importance of upholding the “might of the people” through credible balloting rather than federal or administrative intervention.

Igini also raised concerns about the judiciary’s historical record in protecting voters’ rights.

“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, adding that courts have often failed to enforce due process in elections.

The former electoral commissioner criticised the Senate for revising Clause 60 provisions, which initially mandated real-time electronic transmission of results from polling units.

He warned that this reversal could undermine transparency and accountability, noting past instances where electoral directives were nullified by the courts.

In previous statements, Igini had cautioned that members of the National Assembly risk losing their mandates if mandatory real-time electronic transmission is not implemented.

He stressed that for democracy to flourish, judicial enforcement of due process and protection of voters’ rights is essential.

The Senate had passed the Electoral Act 2026 after tense deliberations, with opposition from Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe over the fallback mechanism for electronic transmission.

Clause 60(3) was approved by 55 senators, with 15 voting against.

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Igini’s warning highlights ongoing tensions over electoral reforms and the critical balance between legislative intent, judicial oversight, and the protection of voters’ rights in Nigeria’s evolving democracy.