The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has rejected the results of the Edo State governorship election circulating on social media platforms.
According to the electoral body, it has not received results from any of the 18 local government areas (LGAs) in Edo State.
The disclosure was made in an interview with Channels Television on Saturday.
INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Edo State, Anugbum Onuoha, clarified that results are still being collated at the ward level and will subsequently be sent to the local government and state collation centres.
“I cannot categorically tell you when we will announce the results in the state. As they come, we will announce,” Onuoha stated.
“For now, no results yet” from any of the local government, he added.
The INEC official warned social media users announcing the “results” of the poll, saying that is the position of the commission.
“I want to correct one thing: those who are publishing results, it is not their duty to announce results.
“INEC has not announced results. I am not even the returning officer for the state. The returning officer will announce the results. But I am surprised with what I see on social media. That is not the correct position of the commission.
“Nobody has the capacity to do that. The law is clear on who can announce the results. So, they should desist,” he said.
Meanwhile, INEC has successfully uploaded over 90% of polling unit result sheets on its Result Viewing Portal (IReV). As of 07:40 pm on Saturday, result sheets from 3,995 out of 4,519 polling units were available on the portal.
The governorship election saw 2,629,025 registered voters, with 2,249,780 voters being with Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs). It features three key contenders vying for the governorship seat: Ighodalo of the PDP, Senator Monday Okpebholo of the APC, and Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party (LP).
The APC currently holds senators in Edo North (Adams Oshiomhole) and Edo Central (Okpebholo), while the Labour Party’s senator, Neda Imasuen, represents Edo South, where Akpata hails from. The ruling PDP has no senator in the state.