The Presidential Election Petitions Court has provided clarity on the use of electronic transmission of election results, asserting that the Electoral Act 2022 does not mandate it.
In a ruling led by Justice Haruna Tsammani on Wednesday, the five-man panel emphasized that the only technological device required for Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) use is the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).
Regarding compliance with the Electoral Act and INEC Regulations and Guidelines, Justice Tsammani stated that there is no indication in the regulations that BVAS must electronically transmit polling unit results.
Furthermore, the Tribunal clarified that the commission’s Results Viewing Portal (IReV) is not a collation system. This interpretation aligns with the judgment in the case of Oyetola vs INEC.
Justice Tsammani highlighted, “There is no provision for the electronic transmission of election results in the Electoral Act 2022.” He underscored that any such transmission is, at best, optional.
