2027: Igini Backs Parties’ Right To Share Polling Unit Results

By Omoyeni Ojeifo

Former Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mike Igini, has defended the right of political parties and candidates to publicise results officially announced by presiding officers at polling units ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Igini argued that party agents should document results by photographing original result sheets and transmitting the information to their parties’ situation rooms, describing the practice as distinct from declaring election winners.

He made the assertion on Arise News Morning Show, monitored by PerSecondNews on Tuesday.

Igini, a lawyer, said the law permitted parties and candidates to publicise results announced at polling units, rejecting arguments that such actions were unlawful.

“The argument that candidates and political parties cannot publicise their results is wholly incorrect. They are free under the law to publicise results officially announced by the presiding officer,” he said.

Igini identified presiding officers, many of whom are recruited from the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and other federal institutions, as particularly important to the electoral process.

“The most important staff that Nigerians should focus on will be the presiding officers. They are young men and women currently undergoing national youth service in Nigeria,” he said.

He urged the NYSC Director-General to certify the integrity of lists submitted to INEC, warning that questionable names could enter the recruitment process if adequate checks were not conducted.

“The NYSC is usually infiltrated. The list is infiltrated, and that is why the recommendation has been that the Director-General of NYSC must certify the integrity of the lists,” he said.

Igini said election officials must be properly identified and vetted to prevent weaknesses in recruitment from undermining public confidence in election results.

“The power of the people at the polling unit is awesome, because voters will normally outnumber polling officials,” he said, arguing that polling units remained crucial to protecting electoral integrity.

He also advocated video recording the opening of polls and the counting process, saying visual evidence could help resolve disputes and establish what occurred during voting and result collation.

Igini emphasized that the upcoming 2027 general elections will put the electoral commission and political actors to the test.

He appealed to all participants to upholding transparent processes and guarantee genuine voting outcomes.