The NigeriaFCT Area Council election concluded over the weekend has been overshadowed by allegations of result sheet tampering and delayed transmissions from polling units, according to a senior election observer.
Andrew Mamedu, Country Director of ActionAid Nigeria, stated on Arise Television’s ‘Morning Show’ that numerous result sheets were altered. He also reported that some uploaded results were not visible on the system. His comments directly challenge the transparency of the vote tallying process managed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The INEC-conducted polls for the Federal Capital Territory’s (FCT) six area councils saw the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) secure victories in five councils: Abaji, AMAC, Bwari, Kuje, and Kwali. The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won in Gwagwalada.
Mamedu provided specific instances to support his claim, noting awareness of polling units where voter turnout was extremely low. “We are aware of some polling units where only seven people came out to vote,” he said. He further highlighted procedural discrepancies, pointing out that while polling officially closed by 2:30 p.m., the Bimodal Voter Accreditation and Results System (BVAS) devices used for uploading results did not transmit the data until late in the evening.
This delay and the reported inconsistencies raise questions about the integrity of the collation process, a critical phase following voting. The BVAS system is central to INEC’s efforts to ensure real-time, tamper-proof result transmission.
The allegations emerge against a backdrop of persistent public and civil society demands for electoral credibility in Nigeria. Observers argue that the reliability of result management is fundamental to public trust in the electoral system.
Mamedu’s statement calls for heightened scrutiny, concluding, “Nigerians need to demand more from INEC.” The commission has not yet publicly responded to these specific claims of tampering and technical delays. The situation underscores ongoing challenges in conducting elections that are widely accepted as free, fair, and credible, with the process’s finality now dependent on INEC’s official declaration and any subsequent formal challenges.
