A former Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mike Igini, has expressed deep regret over his 10-year stint with the electoral body, saying his efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s democracy were undermined by entrenched resistance to credible elections.
Speaking during an interview on Arise News, Igini reflected on his decades-long involvement in electoral reform, revealing that he now questions whether his years of service yielded meaningful change.
“I spent over 30 years of my life, including 10 practical years in INEC, working to remove the history of our elections from the realm of frustration and pain, so we can give meaning and purpose to the ballot as the best means of expressing the will of the people in a democracy,” he said.
“To now find out that all that we did was in vain, that’s why I regret that I wasted my 10 years in service of the fatherland because I’d have been a dead man by now,” he added.
Igini highlighted the personal dangers faced by electoral officials committed to transparency, recounting the killing of a colleague in Kano whom he said paid the ultimate price for attempting to ensure a credible process.
“My colleague in Kano was killed because we wanted to do the right thing for Nigeria. His entire family wiped out,” he said, underscoring the high stakes and security challenges that often accompany election administration in the country.
His remarks cast a spotlight on the risks faced by electoral officers, particularly at the grassroots level, where tensions can escalate during polling and collation.
The former REC also raised alarm over proposed amendments to the Electoral Act, warning that certain provisions, if approved by the president, could expose presiding officers to greater threats at polling units.
While he did not detail specific clauses, Igini cautioned that weakening procedural safeguards or shifting responsibilities without adequate protections could increase pressure and vulnerability for frontline election officials.
READ ALSO: Legal constraints, not connectivity, delay electronic results — Igini
He decried what he described as the “level of hypocrisy” among political actors and stakeholders involved in Nigeria’s electoral process, arguing that systemic resistance to reform continues to undermine progress.
Despite his expressed regret, Igini reiterated the importance of safeguarding electoral integrity and ensuring that ballots truly reflect the will of the people.
As a long-time advocate for credible elections, he maintained that meaningful democracy depends on protecting both the process and the individuals tasked with administering it.
His comments come amid ongoing national debate over electoral reforms and preparations for future polls, with stakeholders sharply divided over how best to strengthen transparency, security and public confidence in Nigeria’s democratic institutions.