Pre-election process determines poll's credibility – Igini
From Musa Umar Bologi, Abuja A former Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mike Igini, said credible elections are largely determined at the pre-election stage, noting that the legal framework ultimately shapes public
From Musa Umar Bologi, Abuja
A former Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mike Igini, said credible elections are largely determined at the pre-election stage, noting that the legal framework ultimately shapes public trust.
Igini said this at the second annual lecture of the Alumni Association of the National Institute for Security Studies, on Thursday, in Abuja.
Igini noted that the pre-election stage remained critical to credible polls, stressing that the legal framework guiding elections plays a decisive role in shaping public confidence.
He added that perception of neutrality among election managers and stakeholders accounts for a significant portion of electoral credibility.
He said, “The first thing you must ask if an election will be credible is the legal framework that will govern it. The sanctity of laws is very key to election management. If the perception is wrong, we are in trouble.”
He expressed concern over what he described as the “growing influence of the judiciary in deciding election outcomes”.
Igini noted that winners should be determined at polling units, and not the court of law.
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“I am worried about the expanding empire of the courts in determining who becomes the winner of elections in our country.
“The winner of the election must be determined finally and conclusively at the polling unit and not in the court of law,” he said.
The former Resident Electoral Commissioner, also described the 2026 Electoral Act as a “tragedy and a major regression capable” of undermining credible elections in the country.
"The current amendment to the Electoral Act is a tragedy to our country, a big tragedy. It is a regression,” he said.
Igini said the 2022 Electoral Act, which he said was widely regarded as one of Nigeria’s most progressive electoral laws, had been diluted by the provisions introduced in the 2026 Electoral Act.
“The 2022 Electoral Act represents the most progressive piece of electoral legislation in our history. Regrettably, that has been watered down by the 2026 Electoral Act,” Igini said.
