INEC Clarifies Timing of Presidential Election Results, Cites Logistical Challenges

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has clarified the reasons behind the timing of the 2023 presidential election results announcement, which declared Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner.

Tinubu secured 8,794,726 votes, defeating key opponents Atiku Abubakar (PDP), Peter Obi (Labour Party), and Rabiu Kwankwaso (NNPP). The announcement was made at around 2 a.m. on March 1, 2023, prompting public reactions.

Rotimi Oyekanmi, Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman Professor Mahmood Yakubu, explained that the delay was due to the extensive collation process from Nigeria’s various regions. He emphasized that neither the constitution nor the electoral act specifies a time for announcing results, giving INEC the flexibility to ensure a thorough and accurate process.

“In a presidential election, the country is treated as one constituency,” Oyekanmi said. “Results are declared at polling units, then collated at ward, local government, and state levels before being brought to Abuja for the national declaration.”

He noted that the commission had to wait for all 36 returning officers to present their results before proceeding with the final declaration, similar to past elections, where results were also announced in the early hours. The delay, he said, was necessary for transparency and accuracy.