‘Dashboard didn’t suggest winner’ — YIAGA reacts as Oyetola’s aide claims APC won Osun guber

YIAGA Africa, a civil society organisation (CSO), says the report from its election result analysis dashboard (ERAD) did not suggest the winner or loser of the Osun and Ekiti governorship elections.

The organisation had, on September 9, shared its findings on the electronic transmission of results in the governorship elections held in the states.

The report found that there were “inconsistencies” in the data on the permanent voter card (PVC) collection across over 10 LGAs in Osun state.

Following this development, Ismail Omipidan, chief press secretary to Gboyega Oyetola, Osun governor, said the YIAGA report indicated victory for his principal.

“I said recently that my principal, Governor Adegboyega Oyetola, did not lose the election but only lost the vote count. But a lot of people were wondering what point I was trying to make,” Omipidan said.

Oyetola lost to Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Responding in a statement on Thursday, YIAGA said its report did not suggest winner or loser, but only highlighted shortcomings with the process of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

“Yiaga Africa’s attention has been drawn to news reports and publications credited to Ismail Omipidan, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Osun state, alluding that the recently launched Yiaga Africa Election Result Analysis Dashboard (ERAD) report for the Ekiti and Osun Governorship election ‘confirms’ that the All Progressives Congress candidate, Gboyega Oyetola, won the election,” the statement reads.

“We outrightly reject this assertion and categorically state that the ERAD report did not in any way suggest the winner or loser of the recently concluded June/July, Ekiti and Osun Governorship elections.

“Instead, the ERAD report highlighted certain shortcomings with the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) upload of results to the INEC Results Viewing (IREV) Portal and recommendations for improving the process ahead of the 2023 elections.

“Yiaga Africa deployed a comprehensive election observation methodology in Ekiti and Osun Governorship elections. First, Yiaga Africa observed the pre-election period and deployed citizen observers on election day using the Parallel Vote Tabulation (PVT) to provide timely information on the process and verify election results.

“The Parallel Vote Tabulation (PVT) election observation methodology is a globally recognised election observation tool used by citizen groups.

“It is one of the most accurate and reliable election observation methodology that can independently verify the accuracy of election day results released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Yiaga Africa has deployed the PVT in 12 elections in Nigeria including the 2019 Presidential election.

“The ERAD report corroborates the PVT findings contained in the report on the Ekiti and Osun Governorship elections released on August 27th, 2022 which clearly revealed that the results announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the Ekiti and Osun election were consistent with votes cast at the polling units.

“Had the official results been changed at the Ward, LGA or State collation centers, the official results would not have fallen within the Yiaga Africa PVT estimated ranges. Thus, we strongly stand by our PVT findings which have in no way contradicted the ERAD report.”