Ex INEC Official Alleges Politicians Bribed Presiding Officers with Dollars During 2019 Election

Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.

A former Resident Electoral Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mike Igini, has alleged that politicians bribed presiding officers with dollars shortly after they were trained for the 2019 general election, and that the electoral officials who accepted the bribes were confident they would face no consequences because of a legal loophole. Igini made the startling revelation on Arise Television’s Morning Show on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, during an interview in which he warned that Nigeria’s 2027 elections are at risk of being fundamentally compromised unless critical provisions of the Electoral Act are urgently amended. He said the bribery occurred in the narrow window between the training of presiding officers and election day. According to Igini, some of the officials who received the money later reported the incident to him, and when he warned them of possible arrest, they cited a provision of the Electoral Act that, in their interpretation, granted them immunity from prosecution. “They pointed out to them this section, saying that nothing will happen to them,” Igini said. “You rig election, you will not be invited. They said any instruction of INEC, you cannot obey it. Nothing will happen to you.”

Igini, who was appointed by two Nigerian presidents and conducted elections across the country, expressed deep concern that certain legal provisions appear to shield electoral officials from accountability, allowing misconduct to go unpunished. He specifically identified Section 137 of the 2022 Electoral Act as a major loophole, arguing that it makes it unnecessary to join presiding or returning officers in election petitions, even when they are directly responsible for misconduct. Drawing from his decade-long experience as a REC in Rivers, Akwa Ibom, and Bayelsa states, Igini warned that the growing role of the judiciary in determining electoral outcomes is a dangerous trend that exposes the courts to political pressure. “Elections that ought to be determined conclusively at the polling unit are now being decided by the courts,” he said. “The courts in Nigeria are now being asked to answer political questions rather than legal questions. Whenever courts are made to answer political questions—who should be a candidate, who should be party chairman—the judiciary becomes vulnerable. Politicians will seek to capture the system.”

The former electoral commissioner highlighted several other provisions of the 2026 Electoral Act that he described as “extremely dangerous” and capable of undermining the integrity of the 2027 polls. He pointed to Section 63, which he said allows a presiding officer to accept a ballot paper that does not bear INEC’s official security features, introducing subjective discretion that could be exploited by politicians to print and introduce fake ballot papers. He also criticized Section 138, which he argued grants effective immunity for disobeying INEC guidelines by stating that an act or omission contrary to INEC’s directives—but not explicitly against the law—cannot be used to challenge an election. “This opens the door for politicians to print and introduce fake ballot papers that must be accepted,” Igini warned. He noted that ad hoc staff who conduct elections are particularly vulnerable to influence, and that politicians infiltrate the system ahead of elections. He reiterated that before the 2019 election, money was distributed—even in foreign currency—to presiding officers, and some were told nothing would happen to them because the law protects them.

Igini’s allegations come amid a broader controversy over perceptions of partisanship within INEC and the credibility of the 2027 electoral process. In separate comments on April 21, 2026, Igini described the situation as “very regrettable and most unfortunate” and urged the commission’s leadership to urgently clear doubts over alleged partisanship to restore public trust. He also raised concerns about what he described as a weakening of the opposition in Nigeria, warning that democracy cannot thrive without a vibrant and credible opposition. The former REC has been an outspoken critic of the 2026 Electoral Act, which he has described as the worst in Nigeria’s history, and has warned that it could undermine the credibility of future elections.

As of the time of this report, INEC had not issued an official response to Igini’s specific allegation about dollar bribes during the 2019 election. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which has previously prosecuted cases of vote-buying and recovered cash from INEC offices, has also not commented on the matter. Igini, however, has called on the National Assembly and INEC to act swiftly to amend the dangerous provisions before the 2027 polls. “How long does it take to amend clearly dangerous provisions?” he asked. He emphasized that the judiciary must remain the last line of defence for democracy and the rule of law, but noted that this responsibility has not been fully upheld. He called for a “purposive interpretation” of electoral laws by judges to prevent abuse, urging courts to suppress the mischief these provisions enable and advance the remedy intended by law. “If these provisions are not addressed,” he warned, “the 2027 election will be compromised before it even begins.”

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