By Harry Awurumibe, Editor, Abuja Bureau
Apparently disturbed by a misinterpretation of the procedure for result management during elections as it concerns the generally accepted electronic transmission of results, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC has clarified its stand on the matter.
The Commission on Sunday stated unequivocally that the newly approved
Electronic Transmission of Results remain and there will be no reversing to manual transmission of elections results anytime soon after it has been used in the Anambra state Governorship Election and most
recently in the Governorship Elections in Ekiti and Osun States respectively.
The clarification was contained in
statement issued on Sunday by INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Barrister Festus Okoye and made available to journalists.
The misunderstanding was due to a recent interview the Commission granted to a news outlet on the procedure for result management during elections.
But the INEC top official has debunked the insinuation of reverting to manual transmission of elections results in 2023 General Elections.
According to Okoye, “Some have interpreted the explanation on result management procedure to mean that the Commission has jettisoned the electronic transmission of result and reverted to the manual process.
This is not correct.
“For clarity, the procedure for result transmission remains the same as in recent Governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun States.
“There will be no change in all future elections, including the 2023 General Election.”
He also said in the statement that: “We wish to reassure Nigerians that the electronic transmission of results has come to stay.
“It adds to the credibility and transparency of the process when citizens follow polling unit level results on the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal in real-time on Election Day.
There will be no change or deviation in subsequent elections.
“The entire gamut of result management is provided for in Sections 60, 62 and 64 of the Electoral Act 2022. In line with the provision of the law, the Commission, in April this year, released a detailed clarification of the procedure for transmission, collation and declaration of result which was shared with all stakeholders and uploaded to our website”.
Okoye said, ”We appeal to all Nigerians to avail themselves of the provisions of the Electoral Act and the Commission’s detailed explanation of the procedure and not reach a conclusion on the basis of media headlines.”
