Why We Declared 2023 Presidential Results At 2 AM – INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has finally addressed concerns surrounding the timing of the declaration of results for the 2023 presidential election.

It would be recalled that after a suspense-filled wait, President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was announced as the winner, amassing 8,794,726 votes.

The declaration came in the early hours of March 1, 2023, at about 2 am, stirring diverse reactions across the nation.

According to the INEC’s Chief Press Secretary, Rotimi Oyekanmi, the timing was dictated by the complex logistics of collating results from Nigeria’s vast geographical spread.

Oyekanmi emphasized that neither the constitution nor the electoral act mandates a specific time for declaring election results, allowing the commission flexibility to ensure accuracy and thoroughness.

He explained that the process involves aggregating results from polling units to wards, local governments, states, and finally to the national level in Abuja.

“The Chairman had to wait for 36 returning officers, including those from distant locations, to present their results”.

“The electoral act requires that results be brought and the returning officers be interviewed”.

“The chairman questions the returning officers and, if unsatisfied, sends them back,” Oyekanmi said.

“Only after accepting all figures from the returning officers and the FCT can results be collated and announced”.

”The delay led to claims that we declared results in the middle of the night. However, Prof. Attahiru Jega declared the 2015 results around 4 AM”.

“The constitution does not prescribe a specific time for declaring election results.”