Politics
INEC Explains Midnight Declaration of 2023 Presidential Election Results
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has explained why it declared the 2023 presidential election result during the early hours of the morning.
On March 1st, at around 2 a.m., INEC announced Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner with 8,794,726 votes.
Tinubu defeated his main opponents, Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP).
The announcement, made by INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, left many Nigerians puzzled, especially those who had waited for hours and woke up to the final results.
For some, particularly supporters of losing candidates, the timing raised concerns and suspicions about transparency.
Rotimi Oyekanmi, Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, addressed these concerns during a session with the INEC Press Corps.
He explained that during a presidential election, Nigeria is treated as one constituency, meaning the results must be meticulously collected and compiled from various stages.
This begins at the polling units and extends through the ward, local government, state, and national levels.
The detailed process of gathering and validating results from all 36 states, including regions as far away as Sokoto and Maiduguri, meant the announcement had to be delayed until all necessary figures had been presented in Abuja.
Oyekanmi emphasized that there is no constitutional or legal mandate specifying a time for declaring election results.
He clarified that INEC could only announce after receiving the necessary data from each state’s returning officer, who had to travel to Abuja.
The returning officers are interviewed by the INEC chairman to ensure the accuracy of the results before the final figures are accepted and announced.
In response to criticism about the late-night announcement, Oyekanmi pointed out that the 2015 election results were declared by the then-chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega, around 4 a.m.
He explained that it’s the completion of the collation process, rather than the time of day, that determines when the results are announced.
Ultimately, the timing of the declaration in 2023 was influenced by the logistical challenges of collating and confirming results from across the country.
The explanation aims to provide clarity to the Nigerian public about the timing and transparency of the process, stressing that the delay was necessary to ensure the credibility of the results rather than an attempt to manipulate the election outcome.
First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has shared that she has forgiven those who betrayed her husband during the 2023 general elections.
She revealed this as she marked a new age, reflecting on what the future holds. She emphasized that she holds no grudge against anyone.
“I do not have anything against anyone. The question is how I stopped feeling the betrayal? I knew the grace factor was evident, and the Holy Spirit continually comforted me. I chose never to avenge myself, understanding that it is God’s prerogative. Mine is to thank Him for fighting for us. If God decides to fight your battles and you have won, is there anything else that God missed and you wanted to fix? Nothing. So, let it go.”
Paul Ibe, spokesperson to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of laying the groundwork to manipulate the 2027 general elections.
Speaking during a YouTube interview, Ibe alleged that the ruling party, led by President Bola Tinubu, has run out of achievements to show after more than two years in office. This has resorted to silencing opposition voices and critical institutions.
According to him, APC is working to weaken independent media, civil society groups, and political opponents. They insists that the clampdown is part of a wider strategy to retain power.
“They have nothing to offer after two years of holding on to the mandate,” Ibe said. “The only way left for them is to start preparing to rig, and the process is already in motion.”
Additionally, he went on to describe Nigeria’s current political climate as a drift into dictatorship, recalling the heavy price paid by activists who fought for democracy in the past.
“The democracy we’ve had since 1999 came at a huge sacrifice. Many lives were lost in the struggle,” he said. “Those heroes would be turning in their graves to see what is happening now. People like Sowore are being harassed and intimidated, and that shows where we are heading.”
Nigerian singer, Charly Boy, has spoken on the resumption of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan as she resumed her duties in the National Assembly after her suspension.
The singer took to social media to show his support for the senator, praising her while warning others, including Akpabio, that she is not someone to be easily dealt with.
He wrote “Una don hear say Senator Natasha don enter National Assembly? You can’t mess with an Alpha woman like that. It seems like they have exhausted their lies; the only available option is to unseal or face international sanctions. Akpabio, be careful next time, no be all women be ntanta.”
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