Results Will Be Transmitted From Polling Units In Kogi Governorship Election — INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that the results of the Kogi State governorship election on November 11 will be sent electronically straight from polling places to its server.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner in Kogi, Prof. Gabriel Longpet, shared this at a media event in Abuja.

He said this new method aims to “eliminate rigging, electoral fraud and other irregularities” and ensure that the voting process is both credible and transparent.

Longpet also stated that the security problems that happened during the 2019 election have been examined and solved. He encouraged voters to come out, promising a safe voting environment.

He said, “Of course, we will be transmitting the Kogi election electronically. A lot of infractions do happen between the polling units and the collation centre; the transmission of the results through electronic methods will definitely prevent such issues of infractions from occurring.

“By the electoral acts, any results figures on form EC8A that appeared mutilated cannot be allowed. If results are transmitted electronically to the IREV, there will be no need for results to be hijacked in the first place, mutilated or changed.”

The state REC reiterated that the 2023 Kogi guber poll ‘will be by the poll and not by the gun”, assuring that the commission will do everything to ensure that votes count and that those who will emerge will emerge through popular votes.

“We have only one message, and the message is that you come out to exercise your franchise,” he said.

The Independent Press Center, Executive Director, Lanre Arogundade said the two-day media round table was part of conscious efforts by the centre to train media personnel, as well as build strategic partnerships and alliances amongst election actors that would be harnessed to produce a better democratic setting in Kogi.

Arogundade urged the journalists to give voices to a wide range of interests in the forthcoming November Governorship Election in the State.

The programme is being implemented by the International Press Centre (IPC), Lagos, lead implementing partner of Component 4 (Support to media) of the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria EUSDGN (11) Project, holding at Treasures Suites & Conferences, Abuja.

The Executive Director of the media training program called on journalists to ensure “fair and balanced” coverage of the upcoming Kogi State Governorship Election. The training aims to prepare the media to help the public make informed decisions.

The Director stressed the importance of media in shaping public opinion and mobilizing voter participation. He urged journalists to adhere to “professionalism and objectivity” and to keep the public informed about how to register and vote.

The media, he added, should hold the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) accountable for delivering a credible election. He also encouraged daily reporting on political activities leading up to the election.

The training program includes 25 journalists from print, online, and electronic media outlets in Kogi State.