comply”, inter alia “with … the principles … of free and fair elections,
which are—
(i)
by secret ballot;
(ii)
free from violence, intimidation, improper influence or
corruption;
(iii)
conducted by an independent body;
(iv)
transparent; and,
(v)
administered
in
an
impartial,
neutral,
efficient,
accurate and accountable manner.
[198] In addition to these principles, Article 86 of the Constitution
demands that “[a]t every election, the Independent Electoral and
Boundaries Commission shall ensure that—
(a) whatever voting method that is used, the system is simple,
accurate, verifiable, secure, accountable and transparent;
(b) the votes cast are counted, tabulated and the results
announced promptly by the presiding officer at each polling
station;
(c) the results from the polling stations are openly and accurately
collated and promptly announced by the returning officer, and
(d) appropriate structures and mechanisms to eliminate electoral
malpractice are put in place including the safe keeping of
election materials. [Emphasis supplied]
[199] Article 138 (3) (c) basically reiterates the provisions of Article 86 and
directs that after the counting of votes in the polling stations, the
Presidential
Petition
No.
1
of
2017
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