INEC Sets New Rules For Election Results Declared Under Duress

…Gets 12 New Applications For Party Registration

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released new supplementary regulations and guidelines to clarify the process for reviewing election results declared under duress or in violation of the Electoral Act, 2022.

This follows recent calls for clarity on the implementation of Section 65 of the Electoral Act which empowers INEC to revisit declarations and returns made involuntarily or contrary to the law.

After its weekly meeting on Thursday, INEC noted that the new rules are detailed in Supplementary No. 1 to the Regulations and Guidelines for the Conduct of Elections 2022.

The document, seen by THE WHISTLER, outlines a procedure and timeline for initiating and concluding the review process.

The supplementary guideline stipulates that if within two days of the declaration of results and/or return of a candidate the INEC chairman receives a report from the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the concerned state, or an official directly involved in supervising the election not below the rank of a National Electoral Commissioner, the commission shall immediately begin a review of such election results.

The supplementary regulation mandates that such a report must contain specific evidence indicating that the declaration or return was either involuntary or in breach of applicable laws, regulations, and guidelines.

It must also be submitted confidentially and directly to the Chairman of the Commission.

Once the Chairman receives such a report, he/she is required to convene an emergency Executive Session of the Commission within 24 hours to consider the matter.

However, if the Commission cannot meet within that timeframe and the Chairman determines that there is prima facie evidence, a Review Committee may be established in line with Clause 5 of the Supplementary Guidelines, with the Commission to ratify this action at its next meeting.

Clause 5 reads, “If the Commission determines that there is prima facie evidence in support of a report to review a declaration and return, it shall:

“Establish a Committee of National Commissioners consisting of a Chairperson and four members to be called “Election Review Committee” to investigate and submit its report(s) on the constituency/constituencies in dispute.

“Ensure that the National Commissioner(s) who made the Report is/are not included in the Committee.

“Give the Committee a maximum of four days to complete thestigation and submit its report to the Commission.”

Meanwhile, INEC also provided an update on its ongoing processing of applications from associations seeking registration as political parties.

The electoral umpire revealed that it had received 12 new applications as of Wednesday, July 2, 2025, bringing the total number of pending requests to 122.

Last week, INEC disclosed that 110 associations had submitted applications.

INEC assured that the registration process would be conducted with transparency and fairness in accordance with the Electoral Act and the Commission’s 2022 Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties.

INEC said the names, acronyms, addresses, and interim leadership of the newly applying associations have been published on its website.

However, the Commission noted that one of the associations had already changed its interim Secretary following a defection to another group.

It urged applicants to maintain consistency in their proposed leadership and contact details to avoid unnecessary delays in processing their requests.

INEC Sets New Rules For Election Results Declared Under Duress is first published on The Whistler Newspaper