Mike Igini, a former Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for the Independent National Electoral Commission, says that politicians gave presiding officers money right after they were trained for the 2019 Nigerian general election.
Igini said on Wednesday’s Morning Show on Arise Television that some of the election officials who got the money told him about it later.
He said that the bribery happened between the training of the presiding officers and the day of the election.
Igini said that he told the officials who were affected that they could be arrested if they didn’t follow ethical standards, but they said that the Electoral Act said they wouldn’t be punished.
He was worried that some legal provisions seem to give people immunity, which means that electoral misconduct can go unpunished.
The former REC also brought up new worries about the legal framework before the 2027 elections, saying that some parts of it could make the process less credible.
He said that important officials, like the INEC chairman, national commissioners, and resident electoral commissioners, would mostly be in charge on election day. He said this could lead to problems.
Igini said, “I was lucky enough to be chosen by two presidents of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I have traveled all over the country to run elections.
“Do you know that when I trained people on a Wednesday for the 2019 election, politicians went to give money to presiding officers on Saturday?
“Some of them came to me. I told them that some of you will be arrested if you don’t follow the highest moral standards.
“I was told that they showed them this part and said that nothing would happen to them. They won’t be asked to go to court. So this part we’re looking at gives them immunity. If you rig an election, you won’t be invited. They told you that you can’t follow any instructions from INEC. You won’t get hurt.
“Now I’m asking my constituency (INEC) to stand tall because, in the end, this issue will go to court. We expect what we call an interpretation with a purpose. Every part of the law that we have suggested changing was based on a problem we have found over time.
“It is the court’s job to push for the solution we want and stop the bad behavior. But that hasn’t been happening in the court. This is the issue we face, and it must be addressed.
“And so we are going into the 2027 election. You already have a plan that will ruin the whole thing because the INEC chairman, national commissioners, and resident electoral commissioners won’t be there that day.”
They are just in charge.
