Court: Only INEC can decide how results can be compiled and transmitted.

Only the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is authorized by law to choose the method of compiling and transmitting election results, according to a Federal High Court decision in Abuja.

Additionally, according to Justice Emeka Nwite, only INEC had the authority to specify how a polling unit’s presider should transfer election results, including the total number of registered voters and the outcome of the vote.

Justice Nwite further held that collating and transferring election results manually in the 2023 general elections could not be said to be contrary to the relevant provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022.

The ruling relates to a lawsuit filed by the Labour Party (LP) with the only defendant being INEC and bearing the file number FHC/ABJ/CS/1454/2022.

The LP had asked the court to rule that the relevant provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022 prohibit INEC from choosing a manual method other than the electronic method.

It requested that the court issue an order requiring INEC to abide by the requirements of the Electoral Act of 2022 regarding the electronic transmission of election results.

Nwite found that the plaintiff had misinterpreted the law’s provisions in the ruling he issued on January 23, 2023, and he then dismissed the case. In (The Nation)

(TNT)