INEC Server Palaver Simplified ~ By Maddox Ojimadụ

What I’m to write is based on information made available to me by persons that manned the Independent National Electoral Commission [INEC] sever in Abuja which INEC should have towed instead of a bold-face denial at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal.

Q: Does INEC have a server?

A: Yes

Q: What’s on the INEC server?

A:            1. Complete voter registration data (including pictures and biometric information)

2. Comprehensive electoral delineation data (down to the Polling Units)
3. Electronic versions of INEC electoral forms (including Form EC 8A aka Result Sheets)

And other sundry data.

Q: what purpose does the server serve (pun intended)?

A: The server stores the vital bits and bytes of information listed above. Computers and other devices with appropriate authentication credentials can retrieve data as well as send data to the server. These include voter registration terminals and smart card readers.

Q: Can election results be collated on the INEC server?

A: Yes. The server has the digital version of the result sheets and can collate, calculate and tabulate the results electronically.

Q: Did INEC collate the presidential election results on its server in 2019?

A: Yes. In fact, the results were transmitted from all the polling units to the INEC server even before the manually tabulated results were announced at the polling units.

Now, the interesting thing is that INEC spent billions of Naira on ICT consultants, to acquire ICT equipment and train its ICT staff and deploy them round the country and its Center at the HQ.

Immediately after the election results were transmitted to the INEC server on election day, the Commission immediately revoked access to the server from all its staff and peripherals connected to it. Only a handful of INEC top brass have access to the server as of now.

It is spurious and laughable for INEC to deny having a server. Not in this 21st century! They should not even attempt to deny the fact that they collated results via the server. They can claim that it was done on a pilot basis and not for purposes of declaring election results.