INEC clarifies Chairman’s remarks on results transmission for FCT polls

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has clarified reports suggesting its chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, confirmed “real-time” transmission of results for the February 21 Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections.

The Commission said headlines in some media outlets misrepresented the chairman’s remarks during his recent inspection of election readiness in Kuje, Gwagwalada, and Bwari Area Councils.

According to INEC, Prof. Amupitan did not use the phrase “real-time” in his engagement with journalists. Rather, he reaffirmed the Commission’s established protocol for electronic transmission of results, which has been operational since 2022.

> “Since 2022, INEC has been transmitting results… We have BVAS, and BVAS is capable of accrediting and also uploading and transmitting the results. So definitely, the results will be transmitted,” the chairman stated.

INEC explained that while it remains fully committed to the electronic upload of scanned Polling Unit results (Form EC8A) to the IReV portal—as provided by its regulations and the Electoral Act—the process takes place only after voting has concluded, votes have been counted, and results manually signed by party agents at the polling unit.

The Commission stressed that the term “real-time” suggests a live or simultaneous transmission of votes as they are cast, which is not part of the procedure outlined in the current legal framework.

Given the sensitivity surrounding election technology, INEC urged media organisations to exercise caution and accuracy in reporting technical electoral processes to avoid misinformation or unnecessary public agitation.

It reaffirmed its commitment to conducting a transparent, technology-driven election in the FCT and called for continued professional coverage of the democratic process.