2023 Elections: Labour Party worries about INEC’s to release Presidential Election Results Portal

The leader of the Labour Party mentioned instances that took place in Lagos State, including Agege, Kosofe, Oshodi-Isolo, Surulere, and Ibeju Lekki, as well as several Delta State locations.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been accused by the Labour Party (LP) of working with specific security agencies to obstruct the upload of results to the Commission’s main server.

As voting in the countrywide presidential and National Assembly elections started to wind down on Saturday evening, the party’s National Chairman, Julius Abure, issued a statement raising the alarm.

After today’s presidential and national assembly elections, “it has come to the attention of the national leadership of the Labour Party on the electoral impunity going on in Lagos and Delta states where the results of the presidential elections collated in various polling units in the states are not being uploaded to the Central Server,” the official said.

The Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) claims that the BVAS installed in the majority of polling places has suddenly developed a defect and cannot be utilised to upload results from the polling places, which has concerned the party.

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Abure mentioned a number of occurrences that occurred in Lagos State, in places including Agege, Kosofe, Oshodi-Isolo, Surulere, and Ibeju Lekki.

He criticised the fact that “results reflect that Labour Party won comfortably” and added that “similar manipulation” had been seen in “most collation centres” in Delta State.

“The assertions by INEC officials that the BVAS suddenly acquired a defect and could not be used to upload the results of the presidential election could only be a tale from the moonlight,” the statement continued.

“We have declined to accept the fabrication. We question whether the BVAS being utilised for the presidential election is the same one that was used to upload the results of the elections for the Senate and House of Representatives. How did they all suddenly start to have problems?

Yiaga Laments the Delay

Similar to Yiaga Africa, Yiaga Africa voiced worry over the time it took for the results of the presidential election to be uploaded to INEC’s Election Result Site.

As of 7 p.m. on election day, no results had been uploaded after voting and counting were completed in a number of polling places.

“Yiaga Africa is extremely concerned about the delay in posting the Presidential election polling unit results on the INEC Election Result Site. No results had been uploaded as of 7 p.m. on election day after voting and counting were completed in a number of polling places, the post stated.

See the full statement by Labour Party below:

STATEMENT

INEC Officials Refusing To Upload Presidential Election Results In Lagos, Delta

It has come to the attention of the national leadership of the Labour Party on the electoral impunity going on in Lagos and Delta states after today’s presidential and national assembly elections where the results of the presidential elections collated in various polling units in the states are not being uploaded to the Central Server.

The party is alarmed that some officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC in connivance with the security agencies, including the Police are claiming that the BVAS deployed in most polling units have suddenly developed fault and therefore cannot be used to upload results emanating from the polling units.

We have noted with dismay that these incidences cut across most areas in Lagos state but significantly in places like Agege, Kosofe, Oshodi-Isolo, Surulere, and Ibeju Lekki, amongst others where results show that Labour Party won convincingly. We also attest that similar manipulation was also prominent in Delta state across most collation centers

The claims by INEC officials that the BVAS suddenly developed fault and could not be used to upload results of the presidential election could only be a tale from the moonlight. We have refused to buy the falsehood. We ask, is it not thesame BVAS that was used to upload the results emanating from the Senate and House of Representatives election that is used for the presidential election? How did they all suddenly developed fault?

The party is also worried that our agents and supporters were refused in some of the collation centres to participate in the electoral activities while agents of the other parties were giving access. Our agents were also told that instruction to suspend BVAS for the uploading of results was from INEC headquarters. One of our Local Government chairmen who dared to question the development was assaulted and arrested by the Police. The Labour Party is also aware that some officials of the APC are in Yaba office of INEC negotiating with the officials.

We therefore call on the leadership of INEC to ensure that only genuine and verifiable results generated from the various polling units are uploaded and declared.

We also call on the police to remain steadfast in ensuring that they respect their oath of allegiance to the nation and also by refusing to be used to deny Nigerians their choice of leaders.

Barrister Julius Abure
National Chairman
Labour Party

25-02-2023