By Osadebamwen Osaretin
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has uploaded 1,340 of the 3,763 polling-unit results from Saturday’s Osun State governorship election to its Result Viewing Portal, IReV, representing 35.61 per cent of the results expected across the state.
The latest figure, recorded at about 5:18 p.m., marks a sharp increase in the number of results available on the portal, rising from 402 results, representing 10.68 per cent, about an hour earlier.
According to checks on the IReV portal, the most recent result uploaded was from polling unit 29/02/04/004 in Ife North Local Government Area, indicating that the electronic transmission process was continuing as officials proceeded with collation.
The development comes as sorting and counting of ballot papers continue at polling units across Osun following the conclusion of voting.
“INEC has now uploaded 1,340 of 3,763 Osun polling-unit results to IReV, representing about 35.6 per cent, as collation continues across the state.”
The IReV portal allows voters, political parties, observers and other stakeholders to view polling-unit result sheets electronically, providing an additional layer of transparency to the electoral process.
The results are being uploaded as officials complete the required processes at individual polling units and transmit the result sheets electronically. The increasing number of uploads is expected to provide a broader picture of the election as collation progresses through the wards and local government areas.
The election is being closely watched as incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party seeks another term against All Progressives Congress candidate Bola Oyebamiji, African Democratic Congress candidate Najeem Salaam and other contenders.
Meanwhile, reports from several parts of the state indicate that counting has commenced following the close of voting. INEC had fixed 2:30 p.m. as the official closing time, while voters who were already on queues were allowed to complete the voting process.
The steady rise in uploaded results has shifted attention from voting and accreditation to the accuracy, transmission and collation of the figures.
However, the 35.61 per cent figure should not be interpreted as 35.61 per cent of the total votes cast. It represents the proportion of polling-unit result sheets uploaded to IReV. The final result will depend on the official collation of results from all polling units and the subsequent declaration by INEC.
With more than one-third of the expected polling-unit results now visible on IReV, attention is increasingly focused on the emerging figures and the eventual direction of the contest.
INEC is expected to continue uploading results as the collation exercise progresses across Osun State’s 30 local government areas.
