The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has confirmed that it has not yet received any governorship election results from any of the 18 local government areas (LGAs) in Edo State.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Edo, Anugbum Onuoha, made known during an interview with Channels Television on Saturday, September 21, 2024.
Onuoha explained that while results from the various wards are still being processed, none had officially reached the local government level for onward transmission to the state collation centre.
“I cannot categorically tell you when we will announce the results in the state. As they come, we will announce,” the REC stated.
“For now, no results yet,” he added, stressing that no results had been submitted from any of the LGAs.
In addition, Onuoha warned social media users who have been publishing unverified results, stating that only INEC has the legal authority to announce the election’s official results.
“I want to correct one thing: those who are publishing results, it is not their duty to announce results. INEC has not announced the results. I am not even the returning officer for the state,” Onuoha noted.
He further expressed concern over misleading online information, emphasising that only the designated returning officer has the legal mandate to declare election outcomes.
Despite the absence of official results from the LGAs, INEC confirmed that it had successfully uploaded over 90% of the polling unit result sheets onto its Result Viewing Portal (IReV).
As of 7:40 PM on Saturday, the commission had uploaded results from 3,995 out of the 4,519 polling units in the state.
Earlier reports suggest ‘vote buying’ looms large in the Election, with political parties accusing one another of vote buying. This report is corroborated by arrests of vote buyers and thugs by the police.
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