INEC's Seven Steps to Restore Trust in Election Results

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) faces significant challenges in managing election results, which is a critical phase of Nigeria's electoral process. The 2026 reform of the Electoral Act mandates electronic transmission of polling-unit results to the IREV portal; however, a proviso allowing physical result sheets to override electronic results creates vulnerabilities to manipulation.

This situation undermines the integrity of the electoral process, as altered physical results can govern collation despite accurate electronic records. Yiaga Africa's policy brief indicates that many processes affecting public confidence in election results lack transparency.

To address these issues, INEC can implement seven specific actions to rebuild trust, including publishing a clear and accessible explanation of the journey of election results from polling unit declaration to IREV portal visibility. Currently, the internal processes for validating electronically transmitted results remain opaque, which contributes to public distrust.