Nigeria’s electoral body, The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared the results of the 2023 presidential election valid and authentic, dismissing claims of discrepancies between the results on its website and those presented by returning officers at the National Collation Centre, which were broadcast live on national television.
INEC’s claim comes after the Centre for Collaborative Investigative Journalism (CCIJ), in a letter dated August 7 and addressed to the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, alleged that in the televised announcements, INEC reported 1,578 polling units (PUs) where voting was cancelled because of irregularities.
It said no figures were given for the reason, though officials said that the total number of registered voters was about 1,205,000.
CCIJ said in the documents filed on IREV that INEC polling workers reported 2,203 polling units (PUs) where voting was cancelled because of irregularities.
“Violence was the leading reason, covering about half of the polling stations affected. The total registered voters was about 1,221,000.
“Can you explain the differences between what INEC officials were saying publicly versus the records filed by polling unit workers?” It queried among several other posers.
Responding, Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Mr Rotimi Oyekanmi, said the Commission does not announce election results on social media and that there are no discrepancies either in the number of registered voters or the presidential election results announced by the Commission.
He said;
“You listed three YouTube video links from Channels Television, showing the interactions between the State Returning Officers of Imo, Abia, and Zamfara States and the INEC Chairman at the National Collation Centre, Abuja.
“It is important to note that the Returning Officers of the 36 states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are required to present their presidential election results individually to the Chief Returning Officer of the Federation for the presidential election, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, who is also the INEC Chairman.
“But contrary to your observations, there were no contradictions in the video clips. In conformity with the established procedure, the Returning Officer, in each clip, announced, in descending order, the total valid votes, rejected votes, total votes cast, cancelled votes (if any), the specific areas where such votes were cancelled, and where the election did not hold with reasons. Party agents were subsequently allowed to make observations or raise objections after each announcement, but there was none in all the video clips.
“The presidential election was conducted in 176,606 Polling Units, spread across 8,809 wards in 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. Supplementary elections were also held in 23 States on 15th April 2023 for various reasons captured under Chapter 11 of the Report of the 2023 General Election.
“To that extent, we need to know the state, Local Government Area (LGA), Ward and specific polling unit being referred to for proper evaluation of your enquiries and to enable us to provide the required information. Unfortunately, the precise information necessary to address your enquiries was missing.
“There are no ‘differences’ in the number of polling units and registered voters in the listed states. The total number of polling units and registered voters remains as announced by the Commission.
“The result of an election may be cancelled for specific reasons, including violence, over-voting, and refusal to use the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), as stipulated in the extant laws. At the same time, the conditions for making a return when the result of an election is cancelled or declared null and void in specific polling units have also been explained in the Electoral Act 2023 and the INEC Regulations and Guidelines for the Conduct of Elections (2022). You are invited to read the full details on our website, www.inecnigeria.org.
“The results of the 2023 presidential election presented by our 36 State Returning Officers and the Returning Officer for the FCT at the National Collation Centre, Abuja, are official and authentic.
“The figures quoted in your letter purportedly from some local government areas in Imo State are inconsistent with the details/results presented publicly by the Imo State Returning Officer at the National Collation Centre, Abuja,” Oyekanmi added.
