‘Electronic collection of results illegal, INEC declares ahead of Imo, Bayelsa, Kogi elections
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has stated that computerized compilation of results remains unlawful in Nigeria, ahead of off-cycle elections in Bayelsa, Kogi, and Imo states.
INEC made the announcement in response to comments and insinuations made by some Nigerians that Saturday’s polls in Imo, Kogi, and Bayelsa states would be conducted electronically.
However, Rotimi Oyekanmi, principal press secretary to INEC chairman, stated that the result viewing webpage was not for collating election results or selecting the winner, and that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) was not an electronic voting machine.
“Polling unit election results, also known as Form EC8As, will be uploaded directly to the INEC Result Viewing Portal from the individual PUs by the presiding officers after the close of poll and declaration of results at that level,” he said.
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“Presiding Officers are expected to use the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System to snap the Form EC8A and upload it to the IReV after all processes at the various polling units have been completed,” he stated.
“However, people must understand that the IReV is not used to collate election results or determine the winner, and the BVAS is not an electronic voting machine.”
“To be sure, electronic voting or result collation is currently illegal in Nigeria.” The IReV portal only displays the Form EC8A uploaded from polling units for the public to see.
“The process for determining and declaring the winner of a governorship election is well encapsulated in section 179 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
