The Independent National Electoral Commission has rejected allegations of result manipulation at the Kuroko Health Centre polling unit in Yangoji ward, Kwali Area Council, during the recent Federal Capital Territory area council elections.
The commission said claims that the All Progressives Congress recorded 1,219 votes at the polling unit were incorrect and stemmed from a clerical error.
Following the elections held on Saturday, reports circulated alleging that the APC secured 1,219 votes at the polling unit despite the presence of only 345 registered voters and 213 accredited voters. The figures sparked concerns on social media and among political stakeholders about possible irregularities.
In response, INEC clarified that the figure of 1,219 votes was not the valid result from the polling unit. According to the commission, the discrepancy arose from a documentation or data entry mistake during the collation process.
INEC stated that the actual number of votes cast at the polling unit corresponded with the number of accredited voters. The commission maintained that there was no instance of over-voting and no manipulation of the results at the unit.
Officials explained that the error was clerical in nature and did not reflect the true outcome recorded at the polling station. They added that the mistake was identified and corrected in line with established procedures.
The commission emphasized that the results declared at the polling unit level were consistent with the number of accredited voters as captured by the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System. BVAS devices are used to verify and accredit voters before ballots are issued.
INEC urged members of the public to rely on verified information released through official channels. It warned against the spread of misinformation, particularly during sensitive electoral periods.
The FCT area council elections were conducted across the six area councils, with political parties contesting chairmanship and councillorship positions. While the polls were largely described as peaceful in many locations, isolated complaints and allegations surfaced in some wards.
Election observers note that discrepancies in figures can occur during manual collation or transcription of results. However, they stress that transparency and prompt clarification by electoral authorities are essential to maintaining public confidence.
INEC reiterated its commitment to credible and transparent elections. The commission said it remains open to reviewing any complaints through the appropriate legal and administrative mechanisms.
As of the time of the clarification, no formal petition had been announced specifically regarding the Kuroko Health Centre polling unit. The commission maintained that the integrity of the electoral process in the affected ward was not compromised.
The development highlights the heightened scrutiny that accompanies election results, particularly in closely contested local government polls. Stakeholders are expected to continue monitoring the situation as final results from the FCT area councils are consolidated and published.
