INEC must Probe Why Upload of Presidential Poll Results to IReV Failed – Jega

In a recent interview on Arise Television, Attahiru Jega, the former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), emphasized the need for a thorough investigation into the failure of the presidential poll results to upload to the INEC results viewing portal (IReV).

Jega, drawing from his experience at the helm of the electoral commission, expressed his understanding of the challenges faced during general elections. He stressed that accountability is vital in such circumstances, even if the failures are not deliberate acts of compromise.

He pointed out that before his tenure at INEC ended, an evaluation of the card reader’s performance revealed a 95 percent success rate, with only a 5 percent failure rate. However, he highlighted the media and politicians’ tendency to focus on these rare failures, acknowledging that perfection is an unrealistic expectation in complex processes.

Jega also lauded the significance of the Biometric Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) developed to replace the card reader, stating its value in the electoral process. Nonetheless, he underscored the primary concern regarding the failure to upload results to IReV during the presidential election.

In his view, a transparent and comprehensive inquiry is necessary to understand the specific reasons behind this failure, not just within INEC but also involving external scrutiny. He anticipates that such an investigation will unveil critical insights, aiding in the fair apportioning of responsibility for the issues encountered during the election.