2023: Key points from Akwa Ibom INEC REC, Barr Mike Igini’s

The Evangelist newspaper edition, Tuesday, July 19, 2022.

“Political parties in Uyo are violating the Electoral Process on Withdrawal of Candidates as prescribed by the 2022 Electoral Act. Some of them have written letters my office in Uyo, that they intend to “drop candidates” but that their letters will be sent to us in due course.

That is what they are saying. It shows that they don’t want to respect the law. As a regulator, we will do what we need to do, because in Nigeria today, those doing the wrong thing are the ones challenging people to go to court”.

“Some people will be candidates for prison instead of candidates of Political Parties because Section 115 (d) of the 2022 Electoral Act prescribes 2 years jail term for any person who signs a nomination paper or result form as a candidate in more than one constituency at the same election”.

“Vote buying is now an epidemic in Nigeria that must be curbed if not it will lead to the devaluation of the ballot”.

“Vote buying reinforces inequality in the society and will lead to class bias policies”.

“Every civilization has a primitive past. We still have 8 months to the 2023 general election so the National Assembly should amend the 2022 Electoral Act to prescribe life ban for any politician involved in vote buying”.

“If you don’t want noise making during the preparation of your pounded yam, don’t buy the yam on credit”.

“For those who think we (INEC) should keep quite, we will not keep quite because in a congregation where all of us are possessed by the Holy Spirit, who will shout Hallelujah?”

“We are going to end the business of Election Petition Tribunal in this country. It’s sad that those who commit wrong are the ones telling others to go to court.”

“Whenever a burial ceremony is over and the drummer is still hanging around, the drummer should be asked if he wants to marry the widow.”