Claims that there were differences between the findings that returned officers gave to the National Collation Center and those that were televised live on its website have been refuted by the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC).
In a letter dated August 15, INEC made this statement to the Center for Collaborative Investigative Journalism (CCIJ), which claimed to have discovered differences between the results of the election that INEC had declared and those that had been posted to the INEC Result Viewing (IReV).
INEC stated there were no “differences” in the number of polling places and registered voters in the states named in a letter to INEC chairman Rotimi Oyekanmi, which was signed by the chief press secretary.
Additionally, INEC insisted that the overall number of polling places and registered voters remained the same as that which the commission had declared.
The results of the 2023 presidential election were revealed in front of interested parties, including the media, at the National Collation Centre in Abuja, according to the electoral commission, which stated that it “does not announce election results on YouTube.”
“You listed three YouTube video links from Channels Television, showing the interactions between the State Returning Officers of Imo, Abia, and Zamfara States and the INEC Chairman at the National Collation Centre, Abuja. It is important to note that the Returning Officers of the 36 States of the FCT are required to present their presidential election result individually to the Chief Returning Officer of the Federation for the Presidential election, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, who is also the INEC Chairman.
“But contrary to your observations, there were no contradictions in the video clips. In conformity with the established procedure, the Returning Officer, in each clip, announced in descending order the total valid votes, rejected votes, total votes cast, cancelled votes (if any), the specific areas where such votes were cancelled, and where the election did not hold with reasons.
“Party agents were subsequently allowed to make observations or raise objections after each announcement, but there was none in all the video clips,” INEC said.
INEC clarified that it did not break down or specify its data for states such as Edo, Delta, Lagos, Cross River, Ebonyi, Akwa Ibom, Abia, and Zamfara. For example, in Edo, discrepancies were noted: 185 polling units with 111,683 registered voters, and a different count from YouTube sources. The election was conducted across 176,606 polling units in 36 states and the FCT. Supplementary elections were held in 23 states on April 5, 2023, and specific details about states, LGAs, wards, and polling units are needed for accurate assessment.
INEC maintains there are no discrepancies in polling units or registered voters as reported, and election results can be annulled due to issues like violence or over-voting.
The official 468-page report of the 2023 elections, released in March 2024, addresses these queries and is available on INEC’s website. The results announced by State Returning Officers and the FCT Returning Officer are official.
Discrepancies in Imo State results compared to those presented publicly are noted. INEC remains committed to improving its processes and responding to queries under the Freedom of Information Act.
The center had raised concerns about discrepancies between YouTube announcements and IREV results, with claims of canceled polling units and irregularities affecting registered voters.
