The Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) has refuted claims of inconsistencies between the results shown on its website and those presented by returning officers at the National Collation Centre.
INEC addressed these concerns in a letter dated August 15, sent to the Centre for Collaborative Investigative Journalism (CCIJ).
The CCIJ had reported discrepancies between the election results announced by INEC and those uploaded to the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal. INEC’s letter, signed by the chief press secretary to the INEC chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi, clarified that there were no discrepancies in the number of polling units and registered voters in the states listed by CCIJ.
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INEC emphasized that the results of the 2023 presidential election were announced at the National Collation Centre in Abuja, not on YouTube. The commission noted that state returning officers presented their results to Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, the Chief Returning Officer, who is also the INEC Chairman.
“There were no contradictions in the video clips cited. The Returning Officers reported results according to the established procedure,” INEC stated. The commission added that no objections were raised by party agents during the announcement.
INEC also criticized the CCIJ for not providing specific details needed to address their queries about discrepancies. The commission explained that the election results are subject to specific conditions for cancellation as outlined in the Electoral Act 2023 and INEC’s regulations.
Furthermore, INEC pointed out that its detailed 468-page report of the 2023 general election, released in March 2024, covers the issues raised by the CCIJ. The commission urged the center to review the report available on its website for more information.
INEC reaffirmed that the figures from the State Returning Officers and the Returning Officer for the FCT presented at the National Collation Centre are official and accurate.
