INEC: WE'LL TRANSMIT KOGI, IMO, BAYELSA ELECTION RESULTS ACCORDING TO LAW.(PHOTO).

 INEC: We’ll transmit Kogi, Imo, Bayelsa election results according to law

...Security our major concern in Kogi guber poll – Yakubu

...Non-sensitive materials delivered to states

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, yesterday confirmed that the results of the November 11 governorship elections in Kogi, Imo and Bayesla states would be transmitted according to the provisions of the Electoral Act.

Yakubu shot down an earlier statement by the Bayelsa State Resident Electoral Commission (REC), Mr. Obo Effanga, that the election result would be transmitted manually.

The INEC Chairman, while monitoring the mock accreditation exercise in Lokoja, Kogi State yesterday ahead of the coming polls, said: “Please disregard whatever anyone has said about the transmission of results.”

According to Yakubu, accreditation of voters during the election would be done with the aid of the BVAS machine before, and after voting would be used to snap and upload the results onto  the INEC Election Result Viewing portal.

Section 60 of the Electoral Act 2022 provides thus: 60(1) The Presiding Officer shall, after counting the votes at the Polling Unit, enter the votes scored by each candidate in a form to be prescribed by the Commission as the case may be.

(2) The form shall be signed and stamped by the Presiding Officer and counter-signed by the candidates or their polling agents where available at the Polling Unit.

(3) The Presiding Officer shall give to the polling agents and the police officer where available a copy each of the completed forms after it has been duly signed as provided under subsection (2).

(4) The presiding officer shall count and announce the result at the Polling Unit.

(5) The presiding officer shall transfer the result including the total number of accredited voters and the result of the ballot in a manner as prescribed by the Commission.

62(1) After the recording and announcement of the result, the presiding officer shall deliver same along with election materials under security and accompanied by the candidates or their polling agents, where available, to such person as may be prescribed by the Commission.

Sec. 64 (4) A collation officer or returning officer at an election shall collate and announce the result of an election, subject to his or her verification and confirmation that –

a. Number of accredited voters stated on the collated result are correct and consistent with the number of accredited voters recorded and transmitted directly from polling units under Section 47(2).

b. The votes stated on the collated result are correct and consistent with the votes or results  recorded and transmitted directly from polling units under section 60(4) of this Act.

5) subject to subsection (1), a collation officer or returning officer shall use the number of accredited voters recorded and transmitted directly from polling units under Section 47(2) of this Act and the votes or results recorded and transmitted directly from polling units under section 60(4) of this Act to collate and announce the result of an election if a collated result at this or lower level of collation is not correct.”

 All non sensitive materials for the elections, Yakubu added, had been delivered to the various local government areas in the three states.

He expressed satisfaction at the preparation for the polls, although he said security challenge remained a major concern in Kogi.

He said efforts were being made to provide adequate deployment of security personnel in the three states with a view to ensuring a peaceful environment for voters to exercise their rights on the day.

He noted the flooding problem at the LEA Primary School, Ganaja in Ajaokuta Local Government Area of the state, saying the polling units there would be moved to a more secure environment.

Besides, he said INEC planned to redistribute voters at the polling unit after the election in view of the large number of registered voters there.

He said: “This is the polling unit with the largest number of registered voters in Nigeria with about 13,000 voters. So, we will be deploying eight BVAS machines to the polling unit on election day.

At the Kogi Local Government (LGA) Area office of the commission in Kotonkarfe, Yakubu said INEC was working with the security agencies to provide convenient environment for peaceful and credible election.

He said: “Wherever you go in Nigeria, you are sure to see two government offices. One is INEC. You will see an INEC office in the LGA headed by an Electoral Officer (EO). You will also see the police office headed by a Divisional Police Officer (DPO) for the local government.

“So, we are everywhere working together. And I’m happy that we are working together as we prepare for the elections.”

Yakubu advised the Electoral Officers (EOs) in the state to follow the standard template for logistics deployment at Registration Area Centres (RACs), as well as work with security agencies for the election to commence in Polling Units (Pus) at 8.30a.m.

“My advice to you is that you have to use the standard template for this election.

“I am glad to hear that all the non-sensitive materials have been received in your local government. And I’m sure it’s the same story in other local governments as well.

“But it’s not only the receipt of the material that is important. You have to batch them so that they go into the box per polling unit.

“So, on election day, as you move to the super RACs or the RAC centres, you will then move to the polling units.

 “We are giving our words to Nigerians that we must open polling units at 8.30am on the dot. Therefore, you must activate the RACs. If you don’t activate the RACs we can’t actualise the commencement of the votes at 8.30am.

“You must activate the RACs with security and I am happy that you are working in partnership with them.”

 National Commissioner in charge of Kogi, Prof. Sani Adam, said the state was ready for the conduct of the governorship election.

He said the commission had held series of meetings with security agencies in the state with a view to ensuring adequate security during the elections.

The state Resident Electoral Commissioner, Hale Gabriel Longer, said the state has reviewed 60 per cent of its budget and has commenced disbursement to the various local government areas.