BREAKING: INEC To Cancel Results Declared Under Duress, Warns Political Parties

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reaffirmed its authority to review and cancel election results declared under duress.

This comes amid growing tensions as political parties are claiming victory in advance following the upload of polling unit results on the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal.

In a statement issued on Sunday, Mohammed Haruna, INEC’s National Commissioner and member of the Information and Voter Education Committee, said the commission will not hesitate to exercise its powers if results declared under pressure are identified.

“Following the conclusion of voting yesterday, the Commission activated the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal and uploaded the Polling Unit results in earnest. The same results have also been collated from all the 192 Wards. Similarly, collation has been concluded in most of the Local Government Areas and the designated officials are already at the collation centre in Benin City or on their way. We are set to commence State-level collation,” Haruna said.

He added that the collation process is being conducted in strict compliance with the Electoral Act 2022 and INEC’s guidelines. He assured that there are mechanisms in place to address grievances, including the review of results where undue influence is suspected.

Haruna also called for the cooperation of all stakeholders, stressing the need for political party agents, observers, and the media to have unhindered access to collation centers. Additionally, he urged security agencies to maintain their vigilance to ensure the peaceful conclusion of the electoral process.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the collation of result will proceed as provided by the Electoral Act 2022 and our regulations and guidelines for the conduct of elections. There is a mechanism for redressing complaints during collation, including the power to review results declared under duress. The Commission will not hesitate to invoke such powers where necessary.

“Accredited party agents, observers and the media should be granted unimpeded access to all collation centres.

“The Commission calls on the security agencies to continue to maintain the same vigilance and professionalism that led to the peaceful conduct of the election as we conclude the process,” he added