Justice Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja has ruled that only INEC has the authority to determine how election results are collated and transmitted. The judge stated that only the Polling Unit Presiding Officer should transfer election results, including the total number of accredited persons and results of the ballot.
He further ruled that manual collation and transmission of results in the 2023 general elections is not contrary to the Electoral Act, 2022.
The Labour Party had filed a suit against INEC, seeking a declaration that the electoral body has no power to opt for manual collation and transmission of results. Justice Nwite dismissed the suit, stating that the plaintiff misconstrued the provisions of the law.
He also noted that the Electoral Act, 2022 provides for the transfer and compilation of election results, and mandates the electoral body to keep such records in an electronic format.
