INEC Speaks On Cancelling Presidential Result Over Electoral Act Violation

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it may cancel thousands of results from Saturday’s presidential election over alleged breach of the Electoral Act 2022.

The INEC chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, pledged on Tuesday that the commission will review election results in accordance with Section 65 of the Electoral Act.

Yakubu stated this after opposition political parties rejected results so far collated from the election over the failure of the commission to transmit the results electronically to a central portal known as the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV).

“We will do whatever we can within the confines of the law to review issues arising from the conduct of the elections, particularly by invoking our powers under Section 65 of the Electoral Act, to review where review is absolutely necessary,” the INEC boss said during a short media briefing at the ICC, Abuja, where results of the presidential election are being announced.

Section 65, subsection 1 of the Act instructs that: “(1) The decision of the returning officer shall be final on any question arising from or relating to— (a) unmarked ballot paper; (b) rejected ballot paper; and (c) declaration of scores of candidates and the return of a candidate:

“Provided that the Commission shall have the power within seven days to review the declaration and return where the Commission determines that the said declaration and return was not made voluntarily or was made contrary to the provisions of the law, regulations and guidelines, and manual for the election.”