By Osaretin Osadebamwen
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has assured Nigerians of a smooth, transparent and credible election, saying it has strengthened logistics, security arrangements and technology systems to ensure real-time results transmission through the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal.
The commission said it remains fully prepared to deliver a credible poll despite last-minute legal and operational adjustments that affected the printing and distribution of sensitive electoral materials.
INEC explained that millions of ballot papers were reprinted within 36 hours following a court judgment that altered the number of participating political parties, forcing urgent revisions to already completed preparations.
It said the judgment came after sensitive materials had been printed and distribution plans were underway, but emergency measures were activated to comply while maintaining election integrity.
Speaking on the development, INEC National Commissioner for Osun State, Mr. Kunle Ajayi, said the commission first verified the authenticity and legal standing of the court judgment before taking action.
He noted that staff and logistics teams worked continuously under pressure to meet revised requirements.
According to him, all affected ballot papers were successfully reprinted within 36 hours through round-the-clock effort.
He added that sensitive materials were moved to the Central Bank of Nigeria for safekeeping before distribution to local government areas.
“We had to ensure compliance and verify the court judgment before proceeding as it was critical to maintaining the integrity of the election process,” Ajayi said.
He stated that despite the disruption, INEC adjusted its distribution timeline and achieved nationwide coverage without missing any local government area.
He confirmed that all 36 local government areas received materials successfully, with final distribution completed around 5 a.m.
The commission also assured Nigerians that results from polling units will be transmitted directly to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) to enhance transparency.
Ajayi said results would be uploaded in real time as announced at polling units, noting that network challenges in some remote areas may cause delays but do not affect accuracy or integrity.
He explained that variations in transmission speed are expected due to infrastructure differences, but all results will eventually reflect on the portal.
Ajayi clarified that IReV is strictly for viewing and verification of polling unit results, not for collation or computation.
He said the system allows political parties, observers, civil society groups and citizens to independently monitor results as they are uploaded.
He reaffirmed INEC’s neutrality and commitment to fairness, stating that all voters in the queue by 2:30 p.m. will be allowed to vote, with possible extensions where necessary.
He added that INEC is prepared for all legal scenarios, including a possible second ballot, while ensuring no eligible voter is disenfranchised.
