Former Resident Electoral Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Mike Igini, has asserted that a majority of individuals currently holding public office in the country should be serving prison sentences rather than governing. Igini made these remarks during a television appearance on Channels Television program Sunday Politics, where he discussed the state of governance and the preparations leading up to the upcoming electoral cycle.
According to the former electoral official, the 2027 general elections will serve as a critical turning point that goes beyond a standard democratic test. He indicated that the electoral commission, judicial officers, and political candidates will all face intense scrutiny from the public. Igini remarked that many figures currently visible in public administration are individuals who ought to be facing criminal investigation and imprisonment instead of holding positions of power.
During the interview, Igini expressed deep concern that the nation has shifted away from operating under the rule of law and is instead subjected to the rule of individuals. He lamented that established legal frameworks are routinely ignored and no longer enforced properly. Furthermore, he highlighted violations of Section 97 of the Electoral Act regarding political support and warned that bad actors are actively undermining democratic institutions.
Igini also raised specific concerns regarding electoral integrity, alleging that politicians have attempted to infiltrate National Youth Service Corps lists to manipulate ad hoc staffing for rigging purposes. He concluded by emphasizing that Nigeria cannot successfully reform its economy without first fixing its political system, maintaining that national development is fundamentally tied to credible political processes.
Source reporting: Daily Post — 2026-10-25 20:27:41
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