By Chibuike Nwabuko
BENIN CITY – The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said it is set to commence State-level collation following the conclusion of voting yesterday.
The Commission disclosed this on Sunday (today) in a statement signed by the National Commissioner & Member
Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna released on official X account of the Commission.
According to the statement, 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.
However, the Commission also highlighted that it received a deeply disturbing report from their Resident Electoral Commissioner of a threat to its office in Okpoba Okha Local Government Area yesterday, resulting in a stampede in which one of our officials was injured.
The statement further said that the Commission is distubed by the overnight presence and demonstrations by some political actors and their supporters at INEC’s State Head Office ahead of the commencement of final collation. The electoral body said that these actions are uncalled for, warning that nobody should disrupt the process at any stage and that no one will be allowed to benefit from lawlessness.
“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 therefore called on the security agencies to continue to maintain the same vigilance and professionalism that led to the peaceful conduct of the election as they conclude the process, the statement added.
