By Michael Adesanya
There are no differences in the number of polling units and registered voters in the announced results for the 2023 presidential election, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said, adding that the total number of polling units and registered voters as announced by the Commission remains same.
Rotimi Oyekanmi, Chief Press Secretary to the INEC chairman, said in an interview on Friday that the Commission, in its comprehensive 468-page publication on the election, titled: ‘Report of the 2023 General Election,’ has provided any answers that any researcher might have regarding the conduct of the election.
“The results of the 2023 Presidential election presented by our 36 State Returning Officers and the Returning Officer for the FCT, at the National Collation Centre, Abuja are official and authentic, “ Oyekanmi said.
Speaking on incidents of results cancellation during the election and others, Oyekanmi said cancellations may occur as a result of electoral violence, over-voting and refusal to use the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), as stipulated by the electoral laws.
He added that the Commission had fielded many requests about this, saying the conditions for making a return when the result of an election is cancelled or declared null and void in specific polling units have been explained in the Electoral Act 2023 and the INEC Regulations an Guidelines for the Conduct of Elections (2000).
“All these are on our website and in the report on the 2023 election which we published,” Oyekanmi said. “The presidential election was conducted in 176, 606polling units, spread across 8,809 wards in 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. Supplementary elections were also held in 23 states on 15th April 2023 for various reasons captured under chapter 11 of the Report of the 2023 General election.
Oyekanmi said the quality of the 2023 election was enhanced by the technological innovations introduced by the Prof Mahmood Yakubu led INEC management.
“The Commission will continue to improve its processes and procedures after every election,” he said.
