NewsNigeriaPolitics2023: There will be Real-Time Uploading of Results on Portal — INEC

The chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu has assured Nigerians of the commission’s readiness for the 2023 general elections.

Prof. Yakubu gave the assurance on Wednesday when he received a team from the Commonwealth Pre-Election Mission led by the Advisor and Head, African Section, Ms Abiola Summonu.

The team paid a courtesy visit to INEC headquarters in Abuja to discuss the level of the commission’s preparedness for the 2023 polls.

The INEC chairman said the Electoral Act 2022 would guarantee a fair and credible election in 2023.

“We have a brand-new law in Nigeria called the Electoral Act 2022, it is IT-friendly, and perhaps the most progressive of legislation as far as elections in Nigeria are concerned,” Prof. Yakubu said.

“The law has enabled the commission to deploy technology in elections and is also very strong on inclusivity, particularly on the provision of assistive devices for Persons With Disabilities (PWDs).

“As a commission, we have been deploying some of these devices in the off-season elections in preparation for the general election. We have introduced the brail ballot guide that enables the visually impaired to vote unassisted; for those with albinism, we introduced magnifying glasses; and for the deaf, we have posters.

“I want to assure you and reassure you that the 2023 general election is going to be our best ever. We are committed that the votes cast by Nigerians will determine the outcome of elections, nothing more, nothing less.”

He also said INEC would upload the results of the 2023 general elections from polling units on its portal to enable Nigerians to have a real-time view of the results as they are being collated.

“The commission will upload polling unit-level results and citizens will have access to those results in real-time as we upload. This innovation was introduced by the commission and the commission cannot turn around to undermine itself. This technology has come to stay,” the chairman said.

In her speech, the leader of the team, Summonu, said engaging with Nigeria’s electoral stakeholders was very important for the Commonwealth due to its strategic place in Africa and the world, adding that the world is interested in what goes on in Nigeria.