Michael Ani

{{about||the American writer, musician and explorer|Michael Stuart Ani}}

{{EngvarB|date=October 2015}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2023}}

{{Infobox officeholder

|name = Michael Ani

|image =

|office1 = Chairman of the Federal Electoral Commission

|term_start1 = 15 November 1976

|term_end1 = 1979

|predecessor1 = Eyo Esua

|successor1 = Victor Ovie Whisky

|birth_date = 30 November 1917

|birth_place = Cross River State, Nigeria

|death_date = 18 December 1985 (age 68){{cite book|title=Nigeria Year Book|date=1987|publisher=Times Press|location=Nigeria}}

|party =

|Educational background =

}}

Michael Ani {{Audio|Ig-Michael Ani.ogg|listen|help=no}} (30 November 1917 – 18 December 1985) was chairman of the Federal Electoral Commission (FEDECO) established by General Olusegun Obasanjo to conduct elections leading to the Nigerian Second Republic, which was inaugurated on 1 October 1979. He held office from 1976 to 1979.{{cite web

|url=http://allafrica.com/stories/201006090203.html

|title=Past INEC Chairmen

|work=ThisDay

|author=Imam Imam

|date=9 June 2010

|accessdate=2010-06-10}}

Michael Ani was a civil servant. In 1966 he had been appointed a Commissioner by Ironsi to assist in reviewing unification of the regional public services.{{cite book

|page=76

|title=Oil, politics and violence: Nigeria's military coup culture (1966–1976)

|author=Max Siollun

|publisher=Algora Publishing

|year=2009

|isbn=978-0-87586-708-3|author-link=Max Siollun

}}

His 1976 appointment followed his retirement from the Civil Service.

The functions of his 24-man Federal Electoral Commission established on 15 November 1976 included the conduct of elections, delimitation of constituencies and registration of political parties.{{cite book

|page=[https://archive.org/details/illusionsofpower00ihon/page/88 88]

|title=Illusions of power: Nigeria in transition

|author=Julius Omozuanvbo Ihonvbere, Timothy M. Shaw

|publisher=Africa World Press

|year=1998

|isbn=0-86543-642-8

|url-access=registration

|url=https://archive.org/details/illusionsofpower00ihon/page/88

}}

The August 1979 presidential election was won by Alhaji Shehu Shagari, although his victory was disputed since it was based on Ani's interpretation of the ambiguous electoral decree which said "a candidate must obtain one quarter of votes cast in at least two thirds of the states of the federation".{{Cite news

|title=From Esua to Iwu, who will rescue Nigeria?

|date=2 May 2010

|author=Muyiwa Oyinlola

|work=Nigerian Compass

}}