Former Resident Electoral Commissioner for Akwa Ibom State, Mike Igini has criticised the Electoral Act 2026 saying even the 2022 Act is a far better legislative work than the currect piece of legislation.
Igini who described the proposed Electoral Act 2026 as the worst in Nigeria’s history, said the current has made a mess of all the efforts of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC to ensure the people’s vote count.
He disclosed this in Abuja at the second annual lecture of the Alumni Association of the National Institute for Security Studies, during his lecture, themed “Credible Elections and National Security in Nigeria”.
Igini stressed that Nigeria’s progress and overall quality of life would significantly improve if the country succeeded in fixing its electoral process and system.
The former student union activist, who also served as REC in Cross River State said it was imperative and urgent to address what he described as the “tragedy” called 2026 Electoral Act before the 2027 general elections.
Igini argued that Nigeria was progressing in error with the 2026 Act and warned that it looks obvious Nigerians might not be allowed to determine who governed them, if the current issues persisted.
He identified three critical institutions as central to achieving credible elections: INEC, the judiciary, and security agencies, noting that their roles must be strengthened and properly aligned.
Igini appealed to this critical trinity to shun becoming puns in the hands of politicians and sabotage the will of the people stressing that legitimacy must be drawn from the people.
