Barr. Mike Igini, a former Resident Electoral Commissioner of the Impartial Nationwide Electoral Fee (INEC), has warned {that a} majority of members of the Nationwide Meeting threat dropping their seats in 2027 if the proposed proviso qualifying real-time digital transmission of polling unit outcomes is just not faraway from the Electoral Act Modification Invoice.
Igini in an announcement he personally signed and made accessible to newsmen on Sunday mentioned the introduction of a qualifying clause to direct digital transmission of outcomes from polling items to INEC’s Outcome Viewing Portal (IReV) might expose lawmakers to the identical electoral vulnerabilities that led to the excessive turnover charges recorded in earlier Assemblies.
In accordance with him, empirical proof from electoral cycles between 2007 and 2023 reveals a persistent sample of legislative attrition, largely pushed by manipulation of polling unit outcomes throughout collation processes.
He famous that many incumbent legislators who had been denied get together renomination tickets by governors and get together leaders, and who later secured various platforms, had been defeated regardless of allegedly profitable at polling items.
“The tenth Meeting stands perilously near replicating this lamentable sample,” Igini mentioned, urging senators and members of the Home of Representatives to excise the proviso and restore the unique provision mandating direct, real-time digital transmission of outcomes.
He argued that real-time uploads to IReV would deter post-poll alterations at ward and native authorities collation centres, as publicly viewable outcomes would make tampering each manifest and actionable.
Citing information on legislative turnover, Igini described the attrition charge throughout each chambers as “alarming” and symptomatic of systemic weaknesses in Nigeria’s electoral framework.
Within the Senate, he mentioned, solely 23 of 109 members of the Sixth Senate (2007–2011) returned, representing a 79 per cent turnover. The Seventh Senate (2011–2015) recorded 36 re-elections and 73 new entrants, a 67 per cent turnover, whereas the Eighth Senate (2015–2019) had 39 returning senators and 70 newcomers, translating to 64 per cent turnover. The Ninth Senate (2019–2023) noticed 45 re-elected members and 64 new entrants, a 59 per cent turnover. Nevertheless, the present Tenth Senate (2023–2027) recorded solely 25 returning senators and 84 new entrants, amounting to a 77 per cent turnover.
An identical development was noticed within the Home of Representatives. The Sixth Home (2007–2011) returned 80 of 360 members, with 280 newcomers, representing a 78 per cent turnover. The Seventh Home (2011–2015) recorded 100 re-elected members and 260 new entrants, a 72 per cent turnover. The Eighth Home (2015–2019) had 110 returnees and 250 new legislators, amounting to 69.4 per cent turnover. The Ninth Home (2019–2023) marked the bottom attrition throughout the interval, with 151 re-elected members and 209 new entrants, or 57 per cent turnover. The Tenth Home (2023–2027), nevertheless, returned solely 109 members, ushering in 251 new legislators, producing a 70 per cent turnover charge.
Igini mentioned the continual instability breeds institutional amnesia, weakens legislative oversight, erodes continuity in law-making, and dissipates public assets on repeated induction and retraining.
He maintained that the vulnerability stems from manipulable polling unit outcomes throughout collation, the place credible proof of constituency help can’t be successfully defended with out safe digital transmission.
Actual-time digital transmission, he mentioned, is just not merely fascinating however important for democratic consolidation and for shielding the political survival of competent and unbiased legislators.
Addressing considerations about community protection, Igini disclosed that earlier than leaving workplace in 2022, INEC, in collaboration with the Nigerian Communications Fee (NCC), performed a nationwide survey which confirmed over 97 per cent protection of 2G and 3G networks. He added that the fee efficiently deployed digital transmission in additional than 105 off-cycle elections, together with 5 governorship polls earlier than the 2023 normal elections.
He additionally recalled that as Resident Electoral Commissioner in Cross River State in 2012 underneath the chairmanship of Professor Attahiru Jega, the fee performed a profitable real-time digital transmission pilot throughout the second-term election of Governor Liyel Imoke, with outcomes transmitted and up to date from all 18 native authorities areas.
Igini argued that underneath Part 160 of the 1999 Structure, INEC possesses regulatory authority to make its personal guidelines and regulate its procedures in discharging its duties, along with its powers underneath Part 148 of the Electoral Act to concern binding laws and pointers.
He due to this fact urged the Nationwide Meeting to take away the proviso and restore the unequivocal provision for direct, real-time digital transmission of polling unit outcomes, warning that failure to take action might see historical past ship “one other tragic verdict” on the present Meeting.
He additionally known as on the judiciary to not turn into “the weakest hyperlink” in safeguarding democracy and the rule of regulation.
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