Prof. Attahiru Jega, a former head of the Independent National Electoral Commission, has claimed that during the general election of 2023, “reckless politicians” broke into the IReV election result viewing portal.
Jega announced this while appearing on Channels Television’s Inside Sources Program on Friday. Jega has demanded an investigation.
A public outcry resulted from the commission’s inability to submit the election results on the IReV site promptly during the presidential election that took place on February 25, 2023.
In response to the development, Jega stated that certain desperate politicians thwarted the commission’s attempts by breaking into the portal, despite the commission’s best efforts to get it right.
According to Jega, INEC performed admirably in 2023 despite extremely challenging conditions, many of which were brought on by the avaricious ambitions of our politicians to win by whatever means necessary.
“INEC has gradually incorporated technology to enhance transparency and integrity in the election results process. However, based on my personal observations during my tenure in INEC from 2011 to 2015, I believe that a significant portion of this has persisted until 2023, as our imprudent politicians continue to strive to outpace INEC.”
“They aim to stay one step ahead of you and surpass it by the next election if you propose something today and attempt it.
“If you ask for my opinion, I feel very strongly that INEC needs to tell us more about what happened with the IReV.
“In fact, at one point, I was even calling for a thorough public inquiry about what happened with regards to IReV.
Of However, in order to maintain the process’s integrity, they can also employ strategies and tactics to circumvent and truncate whatever that has been put in place legally.
“It seems like something went wrong with the IReV, despite Mahmood Yakubu, the chairman of INEC, speaking about it with such assurance and grace.
“I think some of our careless politicians may have compromised it and cut it short, but INEC will bear the responsibility for that.”
He also requested INEC to investigate the IReV portal’s demise once all legal matters have been settled.
