More revelations on why INEC didn’t suspend collation of presidential results

More revelations have emerged as to why the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) did not suspend collation of results during the conduct of the February 25 presidential election.

It was gathered that collation of results was not suspended because the glitches experienced did not affect all the results already transmitted through the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).

It was also learnt that BVAS can store information offline for upload later into INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV).

None of the collated results was lost or tampered with because of the Plan B activated when the glitches occurred.

It was gathered that INEC was sure that technology would save the day.

Sources also said the commission may report some Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) to President Muhammadu Buhari for sanctions over alleged dereliction of duty and insubordination.

A fact-sheet sighted by our correspondent revealed that “the glitches had no effect on the collation process or the results.”

It added: “BVAS can store information offline. The working of BVAS was the reason why you have the competitive results by the presidential candidates.

“INEC results substantially tallied with the figures arrived at by some international non-governmental organisations.”

Findings confirmed that INEC was “ready to show all the proofs before the Presidential Election Tribunal.

Corroborating the fact sheet a reliable source told select editors in Abuja that “the glitches didn’t affect either the results or the integrity of the process including the transmission of results.

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“The glitches occurred because INEC didn’t test run the technology in the field to avoid being misunderstood. When INEC started uploading, the first glitch occurred in the infrastructure of IReV.

“As soon as the glitch happened, there was panic that the system was being hacked. To save the system, the plug was pulled off for both the Presidential and National Assembly Elections.

Responding to a question, the source said: “BVAS was the reason Alex Otti won in Abia State while Tinubu and Ganduje lost in their political domains. BVAS has shown the real people that voted and the true results.

“IReV is the reason why candidates can go to tribunals to contest the results of any strand of elections.”

It was learnt that the INEC management may report at least two Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) to President Muhammadu Buhari for sanctions for alleged sabotage, partisanship, insubordination and nonchalant attitude to duties.

By Section 157 (1) of the 1999 Constitution, the Chairman of INEC, Mahmood Yakubu, cannot remove a Resident Electoral Commissioner.

The RECs have been asked to stay away from duties pending the final decision of INEC management.

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The source said: “The INEC chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, does not condone indiscipline. He and his team have decided to wield the big stick to serve as a deterrent to others.

“So far, INEC management may report the RECs to President Muhammadu Buhari for sanctions. It has never happened, but the management is going the whole hog to show its readiness to enforce discipline.

Responding to a question, the source said only the President can remove a REC by virtue of Section 157(1) of the 1999 Constitution.

The section says in part: “… a person holding any office to which this section applies may be removed from that office by the president acting on an address supported by two-thirds majority of the Senate praying that he be so removed for inability to discharge the functions of the office (whether arising from infirmity of mind or body or any other cause) or for misconduct.”

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