Only Results of Two States Concluded - Jega

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega has said that it is not true that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is leading in 23 states or 64 percent of the presidential elections as declared by the party’s presidential campaign organization.

Rather, he said that only results of the presidential elections in two states have been received.  He also declared that the commission is not under any pressure to declare the outcome of the presidential election inconclusive, while expressing worry over the violence and crisis in River state, stating that the commission is investigating the crisis in the state and would take a position soon.

The Director of Media and Publicity of  the PDP Presidential Campaigns, Femi Fani Kayode had said that the Presidential candidate of his party is winning in 23 states out of 36 states and has 64 percent of the votes cast, but the INEC Chairman said that only results of two states in the presidential elections have been collated. The two states are Ekiti and Ogun.

He therefore warned media houses to beware of publishing results as only the commission has the constitutional powers to announce and declare results. He announced that the results of the presidential results would be announced piece by piece as from Monday by noon in the presence of media and stakeholders.

Warning against the premature publication or announcement of results by unauthorized persons and media houses, Jega said, “Only INEC is empowered by law to announce results and it is an offence for anyone to preempt the commission in this regard.”

The INEC Chairman who expressed worry over the violence in Rivers state, acknowledged that the All Progressives Congress (APC) have petitioned the commission over the crisis, stating that INEC is yet to take a position on the petition calling for the cancellation of the Saturday’s Presidential and National Assembly elections.