The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has decided to tighten its rules about validating and revising election results.
Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu noted that Section 65 of the Electoral Act 2022 dealing with how and when declared results can be reviewed has been interpreted in various ways, which is causing confusion.
To address this, INEC is preparing to release supplementary regulations that will clarify the procedures around reviewing declarations and returns during elections.
The new guidelines are expected to be announced this week and will be published on the commission’s website.
Prof. Yakubu, speaking at a meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners, emphasized that these commissioners are full-time officials.
He urged them to proactively implement INEC’s policies on improving voting access, cleaning up voter registers, handling election security and logistics, and engaging stakeholders.
He encouraged them to train their staff without waiting for central direction.
Looking ahead, INEC has a busy election schedule over the next year: 12 state bye‑elections on August 16; Anambra governorship in November; FCT Area Council polls in February; and governorship elections in Ekiti (June) and Osun (August).
Continuous voter registration will start August 18 online and August 25 in person, with Anambra beginning next week to ensure completion 90 days before election day.
