INEC explains why it announced 2023 presidential election results at 2am

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has broken its silence on the timing of the announcement of the result in the early hours of March 1, 2023.

Recall that there were concerns and criticisms among some Nigerians over the announcement of President Bola Tinubu’s victory at 2am in March 2023.

However, several months later, the Chairman of INEC, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, clarified that the country is treated as a single constituency for presidential elections and therefore a detailed and meticulous process of collating the results of polling stations at district, local, state and federal levels is required.

This procedure, he explained, involves waiting for 36 returning officers from across the country to present their results in Abuja, as required by law.

Rotimi Oyekanmi, the press secretary of the INEC chairman, also clarified that neither the Constitution nor the Electoral Act stipulated a specific time for the announcement of election results.

He explained: “In a presidential election, the country is treated as one constituency. The results are declared at polling stations, then collated at district, local and state levels and then presented to the returning officer in Abuja. This process is time-consuming and requires patience and understanding from the people.”

Oyekanmi pointed out that the chairperson had to wait for all the returning officers to submit their results, a process that took some time due to the remote locations of some of the returning officers.

He added: “The Electoral Act requires that the results be announced and the returning officers be questioned. The presiding officer questions the returning officers and sends them back if he is dissatisfied. This process ensures the accuracy and integrity of the results.”

The INEC spokesman said the delay had led to allegations that the commission announced the results in the middle of the night. He, however, pointed out that even in the 2015 presidential election, the results were only announced at about 4am by the then INEC chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega.

“The Constitution does not prescribe a specific time for the announcement of election results. We understand the public’s concerns but assure them that the commission has followed the law and ensured the integrity of the process,” he said.