INEC dismisses Yangoji Ward vote manipulation claims, confirming results through BVAS and IReV
The Independent National Electoral Commission has dismissed claims of result manipulation at Kuroko Health Centre polling unit in Yangoji Ward, Kwali Area Council during Saturday’s elections.
Also read: INEC Corrects APC Vote Count in FCT Kwali Poll
In a statement on Tuesday, FCT Resident Electoral Commissioner Aminu Idris described the circulating reports as “false and misleading.”
Online claims suggested that a party received 1,219 votes despite 345 registered voters and 213 accredited voters.
Idris clarified that the official result recorded 121 votes, not 1,219, explaining that the discrepancy arose from a clerical error during initial tallying.
“The Commission categorically states that the claim of manipulation or falsification is untrue and misleading,” he said.
According to Idris, the presiding officer initially recorded 122 votes, noticed an overshoot of one during recounting, and corrected the figure to 121, updating the figure in words and uploading it to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV).
Party agents present signed the result sheet, affirming its accuracy.
He emphasised that the commission’s technological safeguards, including the Biometric Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), prevent over-voting and numerical manipulation at the source.
“In this case, accredited voters were 213, and the score entered for the party was 121,” Idris said.
“If 1,219 votes had been entered, BVAS would have rejected it instantly. The discrepancy would have been flagged at multiple collation stages. None of these occurred.”
Idris described IReV as a transparency tool mirroring results uploaded directly from polling units and reiterated that the FCT election was conducted in substantial compliance with the Electoral Act and INEC guidelines.
He urged the public and media to verify information with official records before drawing conclusions and assured that any genuine errors are investigated and corrected.
Also read: INEC Confirms Voters Were Not Moved in FCT Polls
“For further inquiries, please contact the INEC FCT Office,” he said, reaffirming the commission’s commitment to electoral integrity, transparency, and accountability.
