The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced plans to issue a supplementary document to its 2022 Regulations and Guidelines, aimed at clarifying procedures for reviewing election results—particularly in relation to Section 65 of the Electoral Act, 2022.
INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, disclosed this on Tuesday during the second quarterly consultative meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
The electoral body is preparing for an intense electoral calendar, with five major elections scheduled over the next 13 months. These include by-elections in 12 states on August 16, 2025; the Anambra State governorship election on November 8, 2025; Area Council elections in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on February 21, 2026; the Ekiti governorship election on June 20, 2026; and the Osun governorship election on August 8, 2026.
“As we approach the by-elections, the off-cycle governorship elections, and ultimately the 2027 general election, the Commission is concerned with the various interpretations given to the provision of Section 65 of the Electoral Act 2022 on the review of election results,” Yakubu said.
“Pursuant to our powers to issue regulations, guidelines, and manuals to give effect to the provisions of the Electoral Act and for its administration, the Commission is working on a supplement to the Regulations and Guidelines for the Conduct of Elections 2022, to provide clarity on the review of declaration and return at elections,” he added.
The INEC Chairman revealed that the supplementary regulations could be released soon. “As soon as the Commission takes a decision, perhaps as early as this week, the supplementary Regulations and Guidelines will be uploaded to our website and other platforms for public information,” he said.
Addressing the RECs, Yakubu reminded them that their responsibilities extend beyond general elections and must be viewed as year-round duties. He called for sustained commitment at the state level, highlighting that the credibility of Nigeria’s elections depends on consistent efforts.
“I wish to remind you that your work does not begin as the general election approaches. You are full-time commissioners. There are policy and procedural issues already determined by the Commission which you need to implement without prompting from the headquarters in Abuja,” he stated.
“Some of you are already doing so, but you need to intensify your effort. You do not need an elaborate conference or workshop to build the capacity of your staff to improve on their knowledge of new policies and practical innovations introduced by the Commission to improve electoral service delivery to Nigerians,” Yakubu emphasized.
He further urged the commissioners to adopt a proactive mindset: “You can only effectively discharge your responsibilities when you are knowledgeable and committed. I encourage you to intensify your effort so that we will play our part in what is a multi-stakeholder responsibility more effectively.”
“This is a multi-stakeholder responsibility. We must play our part more effectively,” he concluded.
In a related development, Yakubu announced that the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise will resume nationwide on August 18, 2025, for online pre-registration, and on August 25 for in-person registration.
However, due to the upcoming governorship election in Anambra State, the CVR exercise in the state will commence earlier—next week—and will be conducted simultaneously in all 326 wards.
The consultative meeting also welcomed two newly appointed National Commissioners, Professors Sunday Aja and Abdulrazak Yusuf, along with six recently sworn-in RECs. Four of the new RECs participated in the meeting for the first time.
