How INEC Will Transmit 2023 Gubernatorial Election Results

Summary:

• The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced its plan for transmitting polling unit results during Nigeria’s upcoming governorship elections.
• INEC will adopt a dual mode of transmission, which includes uploading the original results to the INEC Result Viewing Portal for public access and delivering physical results to the Registration Area Collation center.
• INEC has dispatched sensitive election materials, trained staff, and is committed to closely monitoring the 28 governorship and 993 state assembly constituency elections.

Lagos, Nigeria – The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has outlined its plan for transmitting polling unit results during the governorship elections across Nigeria on Saturday.

INEC Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, shared these details during an interview on Arise TV.

Okoye explained that INEC will adopt a dual mode of transmission or transfer of results, building on the experiences of the February 25 presidential and National Assembly elections.

He noted that once polls close, the Presiding Officer (PO) will record the scores of each political party in form EC8A, sign and stamp it. If available, polling unit agents and party agents will countersign the form, receiving copies alongside the police.

The original result will be scanned and uploaded to the INEC Result Viewing Portal for public viewing. Additionally, accreditation data from the polling unit will be uploaded.

However, the physical result and the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) will also be taken to the Registration Area Collation center.

Collation Officers will have access to original results, the BVAS, and accreditation data for cross-verification. Okoye confirmed that this dual mode is in line with the law and will be used for the election.

Regarding real-time IREV delivery, Okoye assured that results will be transmitted promptly as polls close. He emphasized INEC’s commitment to improving its performance, learning from past elections and incorporating lessons into planning and deployment processes.

In terms of preparedness, Okoye stated that both the BVAS machines and sensitive election materials have been dispatched from the Central Bank to various state offices.

Efforts have been made to ensure timely opening of polling units, optimal performance of the BVAS, and avoidance of challenges encountered in previous elections.

Furthermore, INEC has provided refresher training for all staff involved in the elections. Okoye highlighted the scale of the elections, with 28 governorship elections and 993 state assembly constituency elections, and assured that INEC would closely monitor the situation in all states.