The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released new supplementary regulations and guidelines for reviewing election results, aimed at clarifying procedures under the Electoral Act 2022.
This was announced on Thursday in Abuja by Sam Olumekun, INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee.
Olumekun explained that Section 65 of the Electoral Act empowers INEC to review any declaration or return in an election that was not made voluntarily or was done in violation of the law, regulations, or guidelines. He noted that differing interpretations of this section have made it necessary for the Commission to issue supplementary rules to guide the process.
“Clear procedures and timelines have now been provided. The details are contained in Supplementary No. 1 to the main Regulations and Guidelines for the Conduct of Elections 2022,” he said. The supplementary guidelines have been uploaded to INEC’s website and other official platforms for public access.
122 Groups Seek Registration as Political Parties
Olumekun also revealed that INEC has received 12 additional applications from associations seeking registration as political parties, bringing the total to 122 as of Wednesday, July 2, 2025.
He assured that the applications are being processed transparently and fairly in accordance with the Electoral Act and INEC’s 2022 guidelines for political parties. The list of applicants—including names, acronyms, addresses, and interim officers—has been published on the Commission’s website.
However, INEC urged associations to ensure consistency in their leadership and contact details to avoid delays in processing their applications. Olumekun noted that one association had already replaced its interim secretary following a defection.
