2023 presidential election results authentic, no discrepancies – INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially confirmed that the results of the 2023 presidential election are accurate and authentic. This declaration comes in response to concerns and allegations raised by the Centre for Collaborative Investigative Journalism (CCIJ).

INEC has firmly addressed and dismissed claims that there were discrepancies between the election results published on its website and those reported by returning officers at the National Collation Centre. The electoral body’s response follows a letter from CCIJ, dated August 7, which was directed to INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu. In their letter, CCIJ questioned the integrity of the election results, citing reports of 1,578 polling units where voting was reportedly canceled due to irregularities.

CCIJ’s concerns were based on the Freedom of Information Law, which allows the public to request and access information held by public authorities. They alleged that the reasons for the cancellations were not clearly outlined in the official announcements, although issues such as overvoting, violence, and other irregularities were mentioned. CCIJ also noted that there were about 1,205,000 registered voters and sought clarification on these issues.

In response, INEC’s spokesman, Rotimi Oyekanmi, clarified that the Commission does not use YouTube to announce election results and emphasized that there are no discrepancies regarding the number of polling units or registered voters. Oyekanmi highlighted that the figures released by INEC are consistent with the data presented by the State Returning Officers and the Returning Officer for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) at the National Collation Centre in Abuja.

He explained that election results might be canceled due to specific issues such as violence, overvoting, or the failure to use the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), as stipulated in the Electoral Act 2023 and INEC’s own regulations. Oyekanmi invited interested parties to review the comprehensive details available on INEC’s official website, www.inecnigeria.org, where the public can find complete information about the electoral process and results.

Furthermore, Oyekanmi addressed the claims made about inconsistencies in the results for Imo State, stating that the figures cited by CCIJ do not align with the official results publicly presented by the Imo State Returning Officer at the National Collation Centre.

INEC’s statement aims to reassure the public of the transparency and accuracy of the 2023 presidential election process. The Commission has emphasized that all necessary procedures and legal requirements were followed to ensure that the results were credible and legitimate. This response from INEC underscores its commitment to maintaining the integrity of the electoral process and addressing any concerns raised by stakeholders in a transparent manner.