A former Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mike Igini, has warned that provisions in Nigeria’s Electoral Act 2026 could undermine the credibility of the 2027 general elections if not urgently reviewed by lawmakers.
Igini, who previously served in Edo and Akwa Ibom states, said his concerns followed a detailed assessment of the law after the 2023 elections. He argued that several sections reintroduce legal and procedural gaps that had earlier been addressed through reforms aimed at improving transparency in the electoral process.
Speaking after a national political summit in Ibadan, Igini said credible elections remain central to democratic stability, stressing that any framework governing elections must be transparent, enforceable and capable of sustaining public trust. He warned that failure to ensure this could weaken confidence in the ballot as a means of choosing leaders.
Among the provisions he identified, Section 63 drew particular criticism. The section allows presiding officers to accept ballot papers that do not carry official authentication marks if they are satisfied with their validity. Igini said this reintroduces subjective judgment into a process that requires strict verification standards, noting that similar loopholes in past elections contributed to manipulation before the introduction of biometric voter accreditation.
He also faulted Section 138, which provides that non-compliance with guidelines issued by the electoral commission may not be sufficient grounds to challenge an election unless it directly violates the Act. According to him, this weakens the authority of operational rules and could encourage disregard for established procedures by election officials.
On election dispute resolution, Igini expressed concern over Section 137, which removes the requirement for presiding and returning officers to be joined as respondents in election petitions. He said the provision limits accountability by shielding those directly involved in the conduct of elections from scrutiny, leaving the burden of defence largely on the institution.
He further pointed to the removal of a safeguard contained in the 2022 electoral law, which allowed certified election documents to be admitted as evidence without requiring testimony from their makers. Igini argued that the change could complicate efforts to prove irregularities in court, particularly when the same law does not compel the appearance of key officials linked to the documents.
Beyond the legal provisions, Igini criticised the handling of election technology, especially the transmission of results and the use of the INEC Results Viewing Portal. He said both systems had been deployed successfully in over 100 off-cycle elections prior to 2023 but were later undermined, raising fresh doubts about their reliability in future polls.
He called on the National Assembly to amend the identified sections before the next general elections, describing the combined effect of the provisions as a framework that introduces discretion where certainty is required and limits accountability where it is necessary.
Igini also responded to claims by a House committee chairman that official marks on ballot papers refer mainly to stamps, saying authentication goes beyond visible markings. He explained that security features such as serial numbers and coded identifiers are critical to preventing forgery and ensuring the integrity of sensitive electoral materials
He urged political parties to engage the legislative process to push for reforms while strengthening internal practices to reflect transparency and compliance with electoral rules. According to him, the credibility of elections depends not only on the law but also on the conduct of institutions and political actors.
Igini concluded that unresolved weaknesses in the Electoral Act could erode voter confidence and affect the legitimacy of the 2027 elections, warning that credible electoral processes must be protected through clear rules, strict enforcement and accountability at all levels.
