In a significant ruling, the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal has affirmed the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) authority to determine the method of transmitting election results for the presidential election held on February 25, 2023.
The five-member panel, led by Justice Haruna Tsammani, cited Sections 52 and 65 of the Electoral Act 2022, which grant INEC the discretion to prescribe the mode of transmitting election results during the election.
This judgment came as a response to the petition filed by the Labour Party and its presidential candidate, Peter Obi. They had sought to overturn the victory of President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress, alleging that INEC’s Results Viewing Portal failed to electronically upload election results in real-time.
This ruling emphasizes the legal framework that grants INEC the autonomy to determine the most suitable method for result transmission, reinforcing the importance of adhering to established electoral laws and regulations. Further details on this matter are anticipated.