Says Commission ready for electronic transmission of results
Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, has warned presidential aspirants to halt campaigns ahead of the 2023 general elections.
Yakubu, while answering questions from newsmen shortly after unveiling new dates for the conduct of the elections, said the on-going campaigns by certain chieftains in the ruling and main opposition parties contravened provisions of the Electoral Act and the Constitution.
He maintained that presidential aspirants were not expected to indulge in open campaigns until September 28, 2022.
Checks revealed that chieftains in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) who have since declared interest for the Presidency included former Lagos State governor, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, former Imo State governor and Senator representing Imo West, Rochas Okorocha, and serving Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi.
Those who have openly declared interest in the main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, and serving governors of Sokoto and Bauchi States, Aminu Tambuwal and Bala Mohammed.
Professor Yakubu dropped the hint that his Commission would soon summon a meeting with the leadership of political parties to call their attention to infractions to provisions of the Electoral Act and the Constitution by their presidential aspirants.
On the electronic transmission of results, the INEC Chairman assured Nigerians that his Commission was fully prepared for it.
From the pilot, we conducted, transmitting results to our portal we have covered all the nooks and crannies of Nigeria; we have no challenge, whether it is remote, rural place or urban areas in transmitting results.
“So, that convince us that we can transmit results by uploading polling units level results to the aerial portal; in all, the 176,000 locations nationwide”, he stated.
