2027: ‘NDC not planning parallel result system’ — Victor Umeh
NDC Denies Plans for Parallel Result Collation System for 2027 Elections
By Adegboyega Adeleye
Senator Victor Umeh, a prominent member of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), asserted that the party will not implement a parallel result collation system for the upcoming 2027 general elections.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics program on Friday, Umeh clarified that the NDC’s approach involves having party agents at each polling unit to collect results as they are announced and transmit them to the party’s situation room for independent review.
When questioned if this method could be interpreted as a parallel system, Umeh responded, “No, it is not. What makes it parallel?” He explained that agents will document results and ensure they are entered into the official result forms before further processing.
“I believe he (Obi) must have been misquoted. What he is trying to say is that the party would have its agents at every polling unit. Once the results are collated and declared, they will conduct their own collation in the situation room,” Umeh said.
The senator emphasized that results from polling units would be sent to the NDC’s situation room, asserting that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) “has no monopoly of collation of data.”
Umeh also noted the NDC’s constitutional requirement for a 13-member executive structure at each polling unit, stating, “Of course, our constitution prescribes that we shall have a 13-man executive in every polling unit.”
In addition, Umeh highlighted the importance of safeguarding votes to ensure a free and fair electoral process in 2027, underscoring the necessity for votes to count. He called for the prosecution of electoral offenders and urged INEC to deploy more personnel to assist during the elections.
Furthermore, he recommended that INEC utilize its own staff as returning officers more frequently, rather than relying heavily on ad hoc personnel during the electoral process.
