Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Justice Haruna Tsammani-led Presidential Election Petitions Court, PEPC, has said that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was not mandated to transmit election results electronically.
The five-man panel which declared this Wednesday while delivering judgment in the petition filed by Peter Obi of the Labour Party against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, said electronic transmission of election results was not mandatory.
“There is no provision for the electronic transmission of election results in the Electoral Act 2022,” the Tribunal Chairman held.
On the mode of transmission of election results, the tribunal said “INEC is at liberty to define the mode it intends to use.
“By the provision of Section 52 and Section 65 of the Electoral Act, INEC is at liberty to prescribe the manner in which result can be transmitted. INEC cannot be compelled to electronically transmit result,” the court held.
According to the tribunal, INEC cannot be forced to send election results by electronic transmission.
