INEC Admits Challenges On Viewing Portal, IReV, Reveals Next Action
INEC Admits Challenges On Viewing Portal, IReV, Reveals Next Action
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has acknowledged the challenge of slow viewing of results of the presidential and National Assembly elections on its results viewing portal (IReV).
Speaking on the issue on Sunday, the INEC National Commissioner in charge of Information and Voter Education, Festus Okoye, said that the development was not due to an intrusion of its systems by external forces.
Okoyo however assured that all results, including those not yet uploaded to the portal are safe on the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).
According to him, the results cannot be altered, adding that any discrepancy between the results on the portal, BVAS and the physical results sheets used in collation will be thoroughly investigated and remediated according to the provision of Section 65 of the Electoral Act 2022.
“The Commission is aware of challenges with the INEC Results Viewing Portal (IReV). Unlike in off-season elections where the portal was used, it has been relatively slow and unsteady.
“The Commission regrets this setback, especially because of the importance of IReV in our results management process,” Okoye said.
He noted that the problem is due to technical challenges relating to scaling up the IReV from a platform for managing off-season state elections to one for managing nationwide general elections.
“Consequently, the Commission wishes to assure Nigerians that the challenges are not due to any intrusion or sabotage of our systems, and that the IReV remains well-secured.
“Our technical team is working assiduously to solve all the outstanding problems, and users of the IReV would have noticed improvements since last night.
“We also wish to assure Nigerians that results from the polling units, copies of which were issued to political parties, are safe on both the BVAS and the IReV portal.
“These results cannot be tampered with and any discrepancy between them and the physical results used in collation will be thoroughly investigated and remediated, in line with Section 65 of the Electoral Act 2022.
“While we fully appreciate the concerns of the public on this situation and welcome various suggestions that we have received from concerned Nigerians, it is important to avoid statements and actions that can heat up the polity at this time or promote disaffection towards the Commission.
“We take full responsibility for the problems and regret the distress that they have caused the candidates, political parties and the electorate.”
