The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) currently addressed issues concerning reports of forged election results emerging from the recent off-cycle Governorship polls in Kogi State, located in North-Central Nigeria.
INEC’s senior officials deployed to the state are actively investigating an alarming incident involving the completion of result sheets in certain polling units before the official commencement of the voting exercise on Saturday.
The catalyst for the investigation was the alert raised by the election observer group, Yiaga Africa, specifically pertaining to Polling Unit 004 within the Eni Ward of the Ogori-Mangogo Local Government Area in the state.
The forged result was seen while voters were still in queue.
In the results, a copy of which was attached to the post, the APC polled 200 votes; AA scored 1; while ADC, PDP and SDP got 2 votes each.
In a tweet, the CSO wrote, “Dear @inecnigeria we received report of pre-filled results sheet discovered in PU 004, Eni Ward of Ogori/magongo in Kogi state before commencement of voting. Kindly investigate and address this issue promptly to safeguard the integrity of the process”.
At about 9.45am, the organisation posted another pre-recorded result sheet from PU 020, Eika/Ohizenyi, Okehi LGA of the state.
“Another case of pre-filled results sheet in PU 020, Eika/Ohizenyi, Okehi LGA of Kogi state,” it wrote.
According to the results, APC got 530 votes; while AA and SDP polled 1 each.
Responding after the tweets went viral, the commission said it viewed the situation seriously.
“Our attention has been drawn to a report that filled result sheets were discovered in some polling units in Kogi State. The Commission views this situation seriously.”
“Our senior officials deployed to the State are currently investigating the incident(s). The Commission will communicate its decision earnestly.”
This prompted INEC to take swift action in probing these claims and assessing the integrity of the electoral process in the region.
