BY TONY EZIMAKOR

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has expressed concern over the different interpretations given to the provisions of Section 65 of the Electoral Act 2022 as it relates to powers of the commission to formulate guidelines, rules and regulations that drive the electoral process.

Chairman of the Commission, Prof Mahmood Yakubu raised the concern while addressing Resident Electoral Commissioners from the 36 states and Abuja at the 2^nd quarterly consultative meeting of the commission Tuesday in Abuja. He said that with the various supplementary, off-cycle and 2027 general elections around the corner, the commission is working to update its regulation to provide clarity on the review of declaration as well as return at elections.

“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. 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 and other platforms for public information”.

Recall that the Supreme Court, ruling on various applications filed by political parties during the legal tussles that ensued after the 2023 presidential election, literarily trashed provisions of section 65 of  the Electoral Act with regard to the admissibility of the rules and regulations made by INEC, including regulation on the deployment of the Biometric Data Accreditation System, BVAS, the simultaneous upload of data during voting on the IREV, among other regulation.

Prof Yakubu said the RECs bear serious responsibility in the discharge of the mandate of commission and enjoined them, especially the new ones, to get down to work without delay.

“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. You also need to provide us with information on your plans to enhance voter access to polling units by decongesting some of them or in other areas such as the cleaning-up of the voters’ register, deepening our engagement with electoral stakeholders at State and Local Government levels, the management of electoral logistics and election security.

“I wish to remind you that elections and electoral activities take place in the States of the Federation and your role as managers of personnel and resources is critical for success. You can only effectively discharge your responsibilities when you are knowledgeable and committed.

The commission also stresses the importance of nurturing a college of trained staff in the various states to improve the process.

“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. You also need to provide us with information on your plans to enhance voter access to polling units by decongesting some of them or in other areas such as the cleaning-up of the voters’ register, deepening our engagement with electoral stakeholders at State and Local Government levels, the management of electoral logistics and election security.

“I wish to remind you that elections and electoral activities take place in the States of the Federation and your role as managers of personnel and resources is critical for success. 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’.