The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is finalizing a supplementary document to its 2022 Regulations and Guidelines to clarify the process of reviewing election results, particularly under Section 65 of the Electoral Act.

INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, made this known on Tuesday during the second quarterly consultative meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) in Abuja.

The commission is gearing up for a busy election schedule over the next 13 months, including five major elections: by-elections in 12 states on August 16, 2025; the Anambra governorship election on November 8, 2025; Area Council elections in the FCT on February 21, 2026; the Ekiti governorship election on June 20, 2026; and the Osun governorship election on August 8, 2026.

Yakubu expressed concern over varying interpretations of Section 65 of the Electoral Act regarding result reviews. He said the commission is working on a supplementary guideline to provide greater clarity on the procedures for declaring and reviewing election results.

“In line with our mandate to issue regulations and manuals to implement the Electoral Act, we are preparing an addendum to the 2022 election guidelines,” Yakubu said. “Once approved, possibly this week, the document will be made available on our website and other public platforms.”

The INEC boss urged RECs to treat their roles as ongoing responsibilities and not as tasks reserved only for general elections. He emphasized the importance of continuous engagement, effective logistics, and the implementation of electoral reforms at the state level.

“You are full-time commissioners,” Yakubu reminded them. “Some of you are already taking proactive steps, but greater effort is needed. You don’t need a large conference or workshop to train your staff—take the initiative to build their capacity for improved electoral service delivery.”

He encouraged RECs to deepen their knowledge of electoral policies and innovations, stressing the need for dedication and initiative to effectively fulfill their roles.

“This is a shared responsibility involving multiple stakeholders. We must all do our part diligently,” he concluded.

Yakubu also announced that Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) will resume nationwide on August 18 for online pre-registration and on August 25 for physical registration. However, in Anambra State, CVR will commence earlier next week across all 326 wards in preparation for the upcoming governorship election.

The meeting, held at INEC’s headquarters, also saw the welcome of two new National Commissioners—Professors Sunday Aja and Abdulrazak Yusuf—and six newly sworn-in RECs. Four of the new RECs attended the consultative session for the first time.