INEC to Issue New Guidelines for Reviewing Election Results Ahead of Upcoming Polls

As Nigeria prepares for a series of crucial elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced plans to release a supplementary document to its 2022 election guidelines, aimed at clarifying procedures related to the review of election results under Section 65 of the Electoral Act.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, made the disclosure during a quarterly consultative meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) held in Abuja on Tuesday.

The commission is gearing up for an intense electoral cycle, which includes by-elections across 12 states scheduled for August 16, 2025; the Anambra State governorship election on November 8, 2025; FCT Area Council polls on February 21, 2026; the Ekiti governorship election on June 20, 2026; and the Osun gubernatorial race on August 8, 2026.

Speaking at the meeting, Yakubu emphasized the need to clear up ambiguities in Section 65 of the Electoral Act, which deals with the powers of INEC to review declarations and returns made during elections.

“In line with our authority to issue regulations and manuals to support the Electoral Act, we’re finalizing a supplement to the 2022 Regulations and Guidelines for Election Conduct,” he said. “This addition will offer clarity on result reviews. Once adopted—potentially as early as this week—it will be made publicly available online and on other official platforms.”

Focus on Year-Round Responsibilities
Yakubu also urged RECs to approach their roles with the seriousness required of full-time appointments, warning against complacency outside of general election seasons.

“Election duties are not seasonal. Many policy and operational decisions have already been made, and it is your duty to implement them consistently and without reminders from Abuja,” he said.

He praised some RECs for their proactive leadership but called for greater effort across all states, especially in areas like voter education, staff capacity building, and local logistics.

“You don’t need large conferences or workshops to train your teams. Build their knowledge of INEC’s new policies and tools to improve service delivery. Be proactive and committed,” he added.

Continuous Voter Registration to Resume
The INEC chairman further announced the nationwide resumption of Continuous Voter Registration (CVR). Online pre-registration will begin on August 18, 2025, followed by in-person registration starting on August 25.

However, in Anambra State—where a crucial governorship election is due in November—CVR will begin earlier, with registration starting simultaneously across all 326 wards from next week.

The meeting also welcomed new faces into INEC’s leadership. Two new National Commissioners, Professors Sunday Aja and Abdulrazak Yusuf, participated alongside six recently sworn-in RECs, four of whom were attending the consultative session for the first time.