Agbakoba Advocates for Public Reporting of Election Results

Dr Olisa Agbakoba, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, has written to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) urging it to ensure that citizens and the media have the right to publish and analyze election results from authentic polling-unit records ahead of the 2027 general elections. In his letter dated October 12, 2026, Agbakoba stated that while INEC has the exclusive authority to formally declare election results, this should not restrict the public's right to report results already announced at polling units.

He argued that public access to election results is vital for transparency, confidence in the electoral process, and preventing disputes. Agbakoba referenced Section 39 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees freedom of expression, and emphasized that citizens reporting accurate results from polling-unit sheets do not usurp INEC's authority.

He also noted the importance of the INEC Result Viewing Portal, asserting that access to this portal would be limited if citizens were discouraged from discussing or reporting the results.