INEC: Why we constantly change colours of election result sheets

Mahmood Yakubu, chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), says colours of election result sheets are “constantly” changed to discourage manipulation.

Speaking on Friday at a stakeholders’ conference on election result management and the launch of the election result analysis dashboard (ERAD) of YIAGA Africa, Yakubu said with the improvements made, manipulating elections will be difficult.

He also listed the INEC result viewing portal (IReV) and bimodal voter accreditation system (BVAS) as technological improvements to the electoral process.

“It is clear that armed with an improved electoral act, administrative procedures and requisite technology, the commission has increased the transparency and confidence of the public in its election result management processes,” he said.

“I can confidently say that the days of wanton manipulation of election results are over. Yet, the commission is not resting on its oars, knowing that it must remain several steps ahead of those who seek to undermine the system.

“The importance of IReV to the transparency of result management is obvious. I call on all stakeholders to support the commission to continue to work to improve IReV and the entire result management system towards the 2023 general election, which will be far more extensive than what we have done so far.

“Apart from voting, result management is easily the most critical aspect of election administration. Indeed, for most politicians, it is perhaps more important than voting. We constantly change result sheet colour because politicians like to produce their own result during election.”