Media Talk Africa: Latest Headlines in Politics, Business, Sports, and More

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has made a significant decision regarding the upcoming governorship elections in Bayelsa, Imo, and Kogi states. Contrary to earlier statements, INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu, announced that the results of these elections will be transmitted electronically.

Prior to this clarification, the Bayelsa State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Ofiong Efanga, had stated that the commission would employ a manual method of result transmission for the governorship elections. However, during the monitoring of a mock election in Lokoja, Kogi State, Prof. Yakubu firmly dismissed the Bayelsa REC’s statement, reaffirming that electronic accreditation and upload of results on the INEC Results Viewing (IReV) portal will be the stipulated procedure.

Notably, Prof. Yakubu urged all registered users on the IReV portal to check the portal in the next few hours to view the results of the ongoing mock elections. This demonstration of transparency echoes similar practices implemented in past elections.

The INEC Chairman also took the opportunity to address the issue of security for the three states, emphasizing that the security agencies have given assurances of adequate security on election day. He further revealed that a high-level meeting, to be chaired by himself and the National Security Adviser, will be held in Abuja next Friday, with all security chiefs in attendance. The primary objective of this meeting will be to discuss comprehensive security arrangements and deployment strategies.

With INEC’s decision to embrace electronic result transmission for the Bayelsa, Kogi, and Imo gubernatorial elections, there is a growing sense of optimism among stakeholders that this electoral process will be more efficient, transparent, and reflective of the will of the people.