INEC RELEASES REGULATIONS AND GUIDELINES FOR CONDUCT OF ELECTIONS
….. It has become necessary to review the Commission’s regulations and guidelines to govern the conduct of elections- Prof Yakubu
Oru Leonard
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released the regulations and guidelines for the conduct of election, 2022 which would be used for general, off-cycle, bye-elections, re-run and supplementary elections.
The regulations and guidelines are issued pursuant to Section 149 of the Electoral Act, 2022 and they supersede all other regulations and/or guidelines on the conduct of elections issued by the Commission.
They shall remain in force until replaced by new regulations and guidelines or updated by way of revisions or supplementary regulations and guidelines supported by decision extracts of INEC or an official gazette.
The new regulations and guidelines covers elections and arrangements for their conduct, accreditation and voting procedure at elections, and collation of election results and making returns.
They apply to the conduct of elections to offices of President and Vice President; Governor and Deputy Governor; National Assembly (Senate and House of Representatives); State Houses of Assembly; Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Councils; and
Councillors of FCT Area Councils Legislature.
Mahmood Yakubu, INEC chairman released the election regulations and guidelines, 2022 at the special meeting of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security ICCES in Abuja on Friday.
Yakubu said with the coming into force of the Electoral Act 2022, it has become necessary to review the Commission’s regulations and guidelines to govern the conduct of elections.
He also said the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), the Electoral Act 2022 and the regulations and guidelines constitute the electoral legal framework.
“On several occasions, the Commission has assured Nigerians that we are finalizing the Regulations and Guidelines for the elections. I am glad to announce that the document is ready and will be presented to Nigerians shortly.
“With the release of the Regulations and Guidelines today, and the publication of the Strategic Plan (SP) 2022-2026 and Election Project Plan 2023 earlier, the Commission has virtually concluded the planning processes for the 2023 General Election nine months ahead of the election.
“In the next couple of weeks, the training manual will also be presented to Nigerians. Going forward, the Commission will focus on election administration: logistics, training, voter education, technology, sensitization against vote buying, inclusivity measures and, above all, security. ICCES will continue to play a critical role and the Commission appreciates the support of all security agencies,” the INEC chairman stated.
Yakubu also disclosed that INEC will be going to Ekiti state shortly to meet with the stakeholders and for the signing of the peace accord by political parties and candidates under the auspices of the National Peace Committee ahead of the June 18 governorship election in the state.
“With only 15 days to the Ekiti Governorship election, all the major activities that are supposed to be carried out at this stage have been successfully undertaken. I led a team of INEC National Commissioners to Ekiti State early this week to assess the Commission’s preparations for the elections.
“We visited our offices in several Local Government Areas, held meetings with our staff, had audience with the Council of Obas to solicit the support of their Royal Majesties for peaceful elections and met with the security agencies. We also observed the ongoing training of ad hoc staff and the deployment of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) for mock accreditation of voters in some Polling Units across the three Senatorial Districts of the State.
“As the Commission is getting ready for the Ekiti State Governorship election, we have also gone far with similar preparations for the Osun State Governorship election holding next month i.e. Saturday 16th July 2022. At the same time, the Commission continues with preparations for the 2023 General Election,” he concluded.
