Former Resident Electoral Commissioner of INEC, Mike Igini, has warned that a majority of members of the National Assembly risk losing their seats in the 2027 general elections if the real-time electronic transmission of polling unit results is removed from the Electoral Act Amendment Bill.
Igini made the statement in a press release on Saturday, cautioning that the absence of real-time uploads to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) could facilitate post-poll manipulations at ward and local government collation centres, undermining the electoral prospects of sitting lawmakers.
“Publicly viewable results serve as a deterrent and would render tampering manifest and actionable,” Igini said, adding that such safeguards are particularly crucial for legislators who have demonstrated competence and independence.
Drawing on historical data from previous electoral cycles (2007–2023), Igini highlighted a persistent high turnover rate in both chambers of the National Assembly, which he attributes to vulnerabilities in the electoral process:
Senate turnover: Sixth Senate (2007–2011) – 79%; Seventh (2011–2015) – 67%; Eighth (2015–2019) – 64%; Ninth (2019–2023) – 59%; Tenth (2023–2027) – 77%.
House of Representatives turnover: Sixth House – 78%; Seventh – 72%; Eighth – 69.4%; Ninth – 57%; Tenth – 70%.
According to Igini, these trends reflect systemic weaknesses that allow powerful party actors to manipulate results during collation, even when incumbents enjoy strong grassroots support. He warned that the current Assembly risks repeating the same pattern unless real-time electronic transmission is protected.
Igini also pointed to INEC’s past successes with e-transmission, citing a 2012 pilot in Cross River State and over 105 off-cycle elections, including governorship polls, where results were successfully uploaded in real time.
He dismissed network limitations cited by some stakeholders as largely unfounded, noting surveys conducted by INEC and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) showed over 97% coverage nationwide.
The former commissioner urged the National Assembly to remove the controversial proviso in the amendment bill, restore direct, real-time e-transmission from polling units, and called on the judiciary to support the measure as a key safeguard for democracy.
“The facts of alarming legislator turnover are incontrovertible. The imperatives are clear. Let wisdom prevail over expediency, convenience, and party loyalty lest history repeat its tragic verdict upon yet another Assembly,” Igini concluded.