Electoral Law: Mike Igini Regrets 10 Years at INEC, Says ‘All We Did Was in Vain’

Mike Igini, a former Resident Electoral Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), says he regrets dedicating a decade of service to the electoral body, describing his efforts as ultimately fruitless.

Speaking during an interview on Arise News, Igini said his time at INEC was marked by persistent resistance to credible elections and serious personal risks, including the killing of a colleague in Kano.

Igini explained that he spent more than 30 years working toward strengthening Nigeria’s electoral system, with 10 of those years directly involved in administering elections. According to him, his goal was to help move the country’s polls away from a history of manipulation and violence and to reinforce the ballot as a reliable expression of the people’s will.

He said learning that those efforts may not have achieved lasting impact has left him disillusioned.

Igini also referenced the death of a fellow electoral official in Kano, who he said was killed alongside his family while attempting to uphold the integrity of the process. He described the incident as a reflection of the dangers faced by officials committed to transparent elections.

The former commissioner expressed concern over proposed amendments to the Electoral Act, warning that certain changes could put presiding officers at greater risk at polling units if signed into law by the president.

He further criticised what he described as widespread hypocrisy among political actors and stakeholders in the electoral process, arguing that systemic challenges continue to undermine reform efforts.

Despite his disappointment, Igini maintained that safeguarding electoral integrity remains essential to ensuring that democratic outcomes genuinely reflect the will of the electorate.