The Unbiased Electoral Fee, INEC, has dismissed claims of discrepancies between the outcomes on its web site and people introduced by returning officers on the Nationwide Collation Centre, which had been broadcast reside.
The fee said this in letter dated Aug. 15 to the Centre for Collaborative Investigative Journalism, CCIJ, which alleged to have discovered some discrepancies between the election outcomes introduced by INEC and the uploaded outcomes to the INEC Outcome Viewing,IReV.
INEC within the letter signed by the Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman, Mr Rotimi Oyekanmi, mentioned that there was are not any “variations” within the variety of polling items and registered voters within the listed States.
INEC additionally maintained that the entire variety of polling items and registered voters remained as introduced by the fee.
The fee mentioned that it “doesn’t announce election outcomes on YouTube” including that the 2023 presidential election outcomes had been introduced on the Nationwide Collation Centre, Abuja, within the presence of stakeholders, together with the media.
“You listed three YouTube video hyperlinks from Channels Tv, displaying the interactions between the State Returning Officers of Imo, Abia, and Zamfara States and the INEC Chairman on the Nationwide Collation Centre, Abuja.
“It is very important notice that the Returning Officers of the 36 States of the FCT are required to current their presidential election consequence individually to the Chief Returning Officer of the Federation for the Presidential election, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, who can be the INEC Chairman.
“However opposite to your observations, there have been no contradictions within the video clips.
“In conformity with the established process, the Returning Officer, in every clip, introduced in descending order, the entire legitimate votes, rejected votes, whole votes forged, cancelled votes (if any), the precise areas the place such votes had been cancelled, and the place the election didn’t maintain with causes.
“Social gathering brokers had been subsequently allowed to make observations or elevate objections after every announcement, however there was none in all of the video clips,” INEC mentioned.
The fee additionally said that the centre didn’t disaggregate and articulate its information within the different listed examples-Imo, Edo, Delta, Lagos, Cross River, Ebonyi, Akwa Ibom, Abia and Zamfara States.
“As an example, in Edo, you gave the next account: 185 Pus, 111,683 Registered Voters (Election Papers), PUs (YouTube) 54, Registered Voters (YouTube) 36,264; Distinction: 131 Pus/75,419 Registered Voters.
“Nevertheless, the Presidential election was performed in 176,606 PUs, unfold throughout 8,809 Wards in 36 States and the Federal Capital Territory.
“Supplementary elections had been additionally held in 23 States on April 5, 2023 for numerous causes captured beneath chapter 11 of the Report of the 2023 Basic Election.
“To that extent, we have to know the State, Native Authorities Space (LGA), Ward and particular polling unit being referred to for correct analysis of your enquiries and to allow us to supply the required data.
“Sadly, the exact data essential to handle your enquiries was lacking.
INEC, nonetheless, insisted that there no variations within the variety of polling items and registered voters within the listed states.
It mentioned that the entire variety of polling items and registered voters stays as introduced by the fee.
It said that the results of an election could also be cancelled for particular causes, together with violence, over-voting and refusal to make use of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), as stipulated within the extant legal guidelines.
“On the similar time, the situations for making a return when the results of an election is cancelled or declared null and void in particular polling items have additionally been defined within the Electoral Act 2023 and the INEC Laws and Tips for the Conduct of Elections (2022).
INEC added that its complete 468-page Report of the 2023 Basic Election formally launched in March 2024 and instantly uploaded to its web site www.inecnigeria.org, already offered solutions to the raised questions by the centre.
It suggested the centre to learn the total particulars on its web site www.inecnigeria.org.
“The outcomes of the 2023 Presidential election introduced by our 36 State Returning Officers and the Returning Officer for the FCT on the Nationwide Collation Centre, Abuja are official and genuine.
“The figures quoted in your letter purportedly from some native authorities areas in Imo State are inconsistent with the main points/outcomes introduced publicly by the Imo State Returning Officer on the Nationwide Collation Centre, Abuja.
The fee pledged to proceed to enhance its processes and procedures after each election.
NAN reviews that the centre counting on Freedom of Info Act in its letter dated Aug. 7 sought INEC clarification on “discrepancies between the election outcomes introduced on YouTube by INEC in contrast with the outcomes from the election papers uploaded into IREV.”
The centre alleged that “general, within the broadcasted bulletins, INEC reported 1,578 polling items (PUs) the place voting was canceled due to irregularities.
“No figures got for the rationale, although officers cited overvoting, violence and different irregularities. The full registered voters was about 1,205,000 voters.
It alleged that within the paperwork filed in IREV, INEC polling employees reported 2,203 polling items (Pus) the place voting was canceled due to irregularities.
“Violence was the main motive, protecting about half of the polling stations affected. The full registered voters was about 1,221,000 voters,” the centre alleged amongst others.
NAN
