The four levels election results go through before winner is announced – Prof Yakubu explains

Prof Mahmood Yakubu, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has explained the four levels that election results in the country go through before the official announcement is done.

He said that the processes start after the conclusion of voting is done and then counting at the various polling units begin.

Speaking during the formal opening of the 2023 Presidential Election Results Collation Centre, he said that the final stage of the process happens when he declares the final results after determining all that has been collated at the 8,809 wards in the country.

“As some of you are aware, collation of presidential collation results in Nigeria is done at four levels after the conclusion of voting, counting and recording of results at the various polling units.

“The results are first tallied and collated at the 8,809 registration areas or wards. The collected ward level results are tallied and collated at the 774 Local Government Areas nationwide. Thereafter, they are tallied and collated in each of the 36 states of the federation and the federal capital territory.

“The collated figures for each state and the federal capital territory and finally collated here in Abuja, where the outcome of the election will be made by the electoral officer for the presidential elections, who also doubles as the Chief Electoral Commissioner of the federation. And, this is my duty and I’m privileged to perform, and it will be done here, at this venue,” he explained.

Prof. Mahmood Yakubu further stated that all results will be displayed at the Collation Centre in Abuja, which is expected to stay open throughout the entire process.

He also appealed to all political parties and media organisations to ensure that they only pick official results from the INEC, as have been displayed at the Collation Centre.

“The official results will be shown on several screens here at the Collation Center… I appeal to all political parties and media organisations to draw their figures only from the official results released by the Commission, as the only body constitutionally responsible for releasing official election figures,” he said.