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INEC gives reasons why upload of 2023 presidential election result was slow

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Some Months after claiming that an attempted hack led to the slow upload of the 2023 presidential election result on its election viewing portal (IRev), the Independent National Electoral Commission has said that the issue was caused by an unforeseen configuration issue in integrating the presidential election upload into the system.

 

INEC, in a 526-page report on the conduct of the 2023 general elections also noted the currency swap issue and fuel scarcity within the period also impacted negatively on the elections.

 

The commission also said that while the configuration problems experienced at the commencement of result upload were immediately addressed, further delays arose as a result of the Polling Officers either switching off their devices or leaving their locations, making it difficult for their IREV to communicate with the device.

 

It noted that several results that were scanned earlier before the glitch queued up for upload, making the system slow, thereby delaying some of the uploads till the following day.

 

INEC also said it suffered over 50 attacks on its buildings and facilities in various LGAs and State Offices across 15 States of the federation leading to losses in terms of vehicles, office equipment and election materials.

 

The commission also insisted that the 2023 general election remains diverse in terms of representation both at the state and federal levels as more political parties won elections in either the state Assemblies or the National Assembly with four parties- APC, PDP, LP and NNPP winning governorship elections.

 

The Report, with a foreword by the Commission Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu read;

 

“On the 25th of February 2023, the nation held the Presidential and National Assembly Elections. These elections were notable for their peaceful and orderly conduct, marked by the absence of significant instances of violence, with over 25% of registered voters casting their ballots.

“Polls opened on time in most polling stations and were generally smooth and orderly. There were some reports of technical glitches with the BVAS, although these were addressed by the roving technical staff assigned to address such issues. The counting, collation, and declaration of results process were largely peaceful, transparent, and credible nationwide.

“While the former was tailored to serve as the nerve centre for monitoring the conduct of elections across the 774 LGAs nationwide, the latter served as the venue for the National Collation of results emanating from States. Throughout the electoral process, Election Monitoring Support Centres (EMSCs) in every state served as a vital source of field information and intervention.

“The National Situation Room was also set up for the conduct of the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly Elections, held on the 18th March 2023. This time, it was replicated in all 36 states. The Situation rooms both at the national and State level were managed by a team of experts from INEC, the security agencies and other relevant organisations.

“A key challenge that impacted on the public perception of the election and elicited widespread commentary was the failure to upload Polling Unit results of the presidential election to the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal in real-time at the close of polls on Saturday 25th February 2023”

“To begin with, it is important to note that the IReV portal is one of the most significant innovations introduced by the Commission prior to the 2023 General Election to promote the integrity and transparency of the electoral process. As a public-facing website, the IReV portal shows the images of the original Polling Unit result sheets as recorded in Form EC8A.

“The operational methodology and the concept behind the upload of results to the IReV for public viewing is quite simple. At the end of polls, Polling Unit results (Form EC8As) are scanned and uploaded to the IReV by the Presiding Officer(s). These results are then available for viewing to the public and all stakeholders.

“The system, which was first deployed during Nasarawa Central State Constituency bye-election in August 2020 and tested in 105 subsequent elections, including three (3) off-cycle governorship elections, has tremendously improved public confidence in the integrity and transparency of the Commission’s result management process.

“The challenge of uploading the PU presidential election results on the IReV after the presidential and NASS elections on 25th February 2023 was unique. As voting ended across the country and POs began the process of uploading the images of the PU result sheets of the elections for the various constituencies around 1 4:00pm, the Commission began to receive reports that attempts to upload presidential 4 election result sheets was failing.”

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2027: There’s no coalition, I know who’ll get ADC presidential ticket – Omokri

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Reno Omokri, a former aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, has said that Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general election, will not get the sole ticket of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, come 2027.

According to him, there is no coalition against President Bola Tinubu since all those involved cannot settle for one candidate with Peter Obi, Atiku Abubakar and Chibuike Amaechi all indicating interest.

Omokri told Arise News that one thing that political leaders in the coalition all have in common is that they all lost in 2023.

He described the coalition as a loser’s convention, adding that President Bola Tinubu has no reason to be afraid of them.

“You’re forming a loser’s convention. I mean, why should I be afraid of you?

“It happens all the time in the United States, we see people forming a loser’s convention. When you gather negative thinkers together, there’s more negativity,” he said.

Reminded that there is a certain logic behind the coalition which is that the likes Peter Obi and Atiku do not want to split their vote, which collectively beat Tinubu hands down in 2023.

Recall that Tinubu got 37% of the votes in 2023, while Atiku and Obi combined got 54% and both parties feel that they might have won on a joint ticket in 2027.

Omokri, however, noted that there is no coalition, adding, “If Peter Obi says he’s running, if Atiku says he’s running…, if we are seeing Amaechi submitting a proposal to the ADC officially for a one term presidency. I mean, have you seen any coalition there?

“There’s no coalition. What you’re just seeing is egos, different egos. The man, Peter Obi, based on what has happened in the past, it’s very unlikely to get the ticket of the ADC.

“Because if you see what’s happening with the ADC, he doesn’t have that clout within the ADC. I have a good idea who’s likely going to get a ticket. It’s likely going to go to a Northerner.

“And the man [Obi] has said, I’m definitely going to run. So, there is no coalition, there are no general forces, this is just egos going here, right, and there.”

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2027: I’ll defeat Matawalle by 10am – Gov Lawal

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Ahead of 2027 general election, Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State has claimed that he will defeat the former Governor of the state, Bello Matawalle, if he makes a come back to run.

Lawal stated this on Wednesday while fielding questions on Channels TV’s Politics Today programme.

The statement comes amid speculation that he might switch camp to newly unveiled African Democratic Congress, ADC, following the intractable crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

However, the governor said he remains a member of the PDP, while also dismissing speculations that he was about to decamp to the All Progressives Congress.

Speaking about what would happen if the current Minister of Defense (State) Matawalle decides to seek a ticket for the governorship position under the APC, governor Lawal said he thinks there is no reason for him to fear anybody.

He said: “The truth of the matter is, when I contested in 2023 all these forces were there. They were all in APC when I contested in 2023 and I still won.

“What do you think will change now, in 2027 is it not the same Matawalle that I took over from? I’m praying to God that he should be the one under APC, and let’s see what will happen in 2027 I’m sure history will repeat itself.

“He’s (Matawalle) the one that will be an easier race, in fact, by 10am, it should be a walk over inshallah.”

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Tinubu building on Buhari’s reforms – Former SGF, Boss Mustapha

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Immediate past Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Boss Mustapha, says the administration of President Bola Tinubu is building on the foundation of his predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari.

Mustapha said this at the public presentation of a book, “According to the President”, written by former presidential aide, Garba Shehu, on Wednesday in Abuja.

Mustapha highlighted Buhari’s legacy of institutional reforms and praised Tinubu for sustaining and building upon them.

The Ex-SGF stressed that both administrations exemplify a commitment to systemic governance rather than personality-driven politics.

“President Buhari governed with duty rather than drama. He was driven by principles, not applause,” Mustapha stated.

Mustapha also highlighted key policy interventions during Buhari’s tenure, including the Petroleum Industry Act, large-scale infrastructure projects, military retooling, and the National Social Investment Programme, NSIP.

He hailed the former president for advancing reforms in agriculture, power, education, and the digital economy, describing these efforts as part of a broader architecture of inclusive development.

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