- Section 65 of the Act empowers INEC to within seven days review election results where the returning officer had made an illegal return under duress.
The chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Mahmood Yakubu, has said that the commission will soon issue supplementary regulations to clarify Section 65 of the Electoral Act 2022.
Yakubu disclosed this on Tuesday during a consultative meeting with resident electoral commissioners at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
He stated that the commission is aware of the conflicting interpretations being attached to the section, which empowers INEC to review results declared under questionable circumstances.
“As we approach the bye-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.
“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.”
Addressing the resident commissioners, the INEC chair urged them to take full ownership of electoral processes in their respective states.
He said they should not wait for instructions from the commission’s headquarters before acting.
“You are full-time commissioners and should already be implementing existing policies,” he said.
He tasked them to intensify efforts in staff training, stakeholder engagement, logistics planning and security coordination.
The INEC chairman welcomed six new resident electoral commissioners who were sworn in 32 days ago.
He expressed satisfaction that all states and the Federal Capital Territory now have serving RECs.
The chairman concluded that the outcome of future elections would rest heavily on the initiative and dedication of the resident commissioners.