Igini Urges Nigerians to Record and Publish Election Results
Voters Hold the Power at the Polling Unit
Igini concluded with a message of optimism. Each of Nigeria’s 176,846 polling units has only four INEC officials, and voters normally outnumber them. “That is where the power of the voter lies,” he said.
He also questioned the cost-benefit logic of the system. With each ad hoc staff member paid ₦37,000, he said, four officials per polling unit amount to ₦148,000. Across the country, that comes to roughly ₦26 billion, and he noted that the police are paid too. “How can you pay 26 billion Naira and still tell citizens to guard their votes?” he asked, adding that such a situation is a failure of the state to protect the vote.
Solutions: Record It, Photograph It, Publish It
Igini outlined practical safeguards, many of which he claims are already legally mandated.
- Video recording: He pointed to Section 41(3) and (4) of the Electoral Act. He said these provisions allow party agents to record the polling unit process on video, including the display of the EC8A result form.
- Photograph the original EC8A: Agents should not rely on carbon copies, which are often unclear. They should photograph the original form before leaving.
- Audit of election materials: Party agents should take part in auditing materials before the polls.
- Parties and candidates may publicise results: He said candidates and their “situation rooms” are free under the law to publish outcomes officially announced at polling units. He drew a clear line between the declaration of a winner by a returning officer and the announcement of results at the polling unit under Section 25.
- Media freedom: He argued that intimidating media houses or citizens who report such results violates Section 39. He also cited a subsisting court judgement on the right of journalists to receive and share information.
- Learn from Ghana: He noted that in Ghana, the ruling party’s situation room had information showing it had lost before the electoral commission made its announcement, and he said something similar happened in Botswana.
On the Redeployed INEC Director
When asked about the controversy surrounding a redeployed operations director, Igini stated that any director can be redeployed at any time. He acknowledged the concern about optics because of her husband’s public profile but said the situation is “not conclusive evidence of any wrongdoing.” Since permanent staff, he explained, do not conduct elections on the day, the focus should stay on ad hoc personnel.
Key Takeaways for Voters
- Election outcomes depend most on the ad hoc staff who work at polling units, especially NYSC presiding officers.
- The integrity of the list serves as the primary line of defence. NYSC, INEC, and parents each have specific responsibilities to fulfil.
- The law already allows video recording, photographing results and publishing officially announced polling unit results.
- Police must enforce the legal protections for campaigns and voters.
- Voters outnumber officials at every polling unit, and that is their strength. Igini Urges Nigerians to Record and Publish Election Results
In his closing words, Igini reminded all stakeholders that “the high court of history” will judge INEC officials, politicians and everyone else for how this election is conducted. As 2027 approaches, Nigerians will closely observe whether the commission’s preparations align with its commitments. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAvhiWDV8sI
