The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has dismissed media reports suggesting Joash Amupitan, its Chairman announced plans for real-time transmission of results in Saturday’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Council elections.
In a statement on Wednesday in Abuja, Adedayo Oketola, Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, urged journalists to verify technical details before publication, stressing that the chairman’s remarks had been misrepresented.
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According to the Commission, the misunderstanding followed the chairman’s inspection of election readiness in Kuje, Gwagwalada and Bwari Area Councils, after which some media reports claimed he confirmed “real-time” transmission of results for the February 21 polls.
INEC clarified that the chairman never used the phrase “real-time,” noting that such wording distorts the Commission’s established procedures.
Responding to questions during the visit, the commission said Amupitan had only reiterated that INEC has operated a settled protocol for electronic transmission of results since 2022.
The Commission emphasised that its process involves uploading scanned polling-unit result sheets (Form EC8A) to the IReV portal after voting, counting, and manual authentication by party agents at polling units.
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INEC further explained that the term “real-time” suggests a live or simultaneous feed of votes as they are cast, a procedure not recognised in the current legal framework governing elections.
Describing election technology as a sensitive issue in Nigeria’s political environment, the Commission warned that inaccurate reporting could fuel public anxiety and misinformation.
INEC reaffirmed its commitment to conducting a transparent, technology-driven FCT election and called on the media to maintain professionalism in covering the democratic process.
