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 and VanguardLive.
Relying on the Freedom of Information Law, 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 cited overvoting, violence, and other irregularities, adding that the total number of registered voters was about 1,205,000. However, the Centre 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.
In a response seen by Vanguard, Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Mr Rotimi Oyekanmi, said the Commission does not announce election results on YouTube and that there are no discrepancies either in the number of registered voters or the presidential election results announced by the Commission.
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