INEC has dismissed claims of discrepancies in the 2023 presidential election results, countering allegations made by the Centre for Collaborative Investigative Journalism. INEC affirmed the accuracy of the results announced by state Returning Officers and addressed concerns about polling unit cancellations due to irregularities and violence.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has affirmed the authenticity of the 2023 presidential election results, dismissing allegations of discrepancies between the results published on its website and those announced by returning officers at the National Collation Centre. These allegations were brought forward by the Centre for Collaborative Investigative Journalism (CCIJ), which questioned inconsistencies in the number of polling units where voting was canceled.
CCIJ’s concerns stemmed from differences between what was announced on live television and the records documented by polling unit workers. Specifically, the group highlighted discrepancies in the number of canceled polling units due to irregularities, with violence cited as a primary cause.
In response, INEC, through its Chief Press Secretary, Rotimi Oyekanmi, clarified that the Commission does not announce results on social media and that the official results presented by the 36 state Returning Officers are accurate and consistent. Oyekanmi emphasized that any cancellation of votes was done in accordance with the law, which specifies the conditions under which election results may be annulled.
The INEC representative further noted that the agency followed established procedures during the announcement of results, allowing party agents to raise objections, none of which occurred. He invited the public to consult the INEC website for detailed information and maintained that the figures quoted by CCIJ were not consistent with the officially recorded results.
Public reactions to INEC’s statement were mixed, with many Nigerians expressing skepticism and frustration, accusing the Commission of election rigging and manipulation.
