INEC releases new guidelines ahead of 2023 elections

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released the Regulations and Guidelines for the Conduct of Elections in 2023.

The guidelines were released by the Chairman of the commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu on Friday, when he presided over a meeting of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) in Abuja, NAN reports.

The guidelines, issued pursuant to Section 149 of the Electoral Act, 2022, supersede all others, as they cover elections and arrangements for their conduct, accreditation, and voting procedure at elections among others.

It also applies to the conduct of elections for offices of President and Vice President; Governor and Deputy Governor; National Assembly (Senate and House of Representatives).

Others are State Houses of Assembly; Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Councils; Councillors of FCT Area Councils Legislature.

In the meeting, security arrangements for the Ekiti governorship election on June 18 were reviewed.

Yakubu said due to the Electoral Act 2022, it became important to review the Commission’s Regulations and Guidelines to govern the conduct of elections.

According to him, “I am glad to announce that the document is ready and will be presented to Nigerians shortly.

“The soft copy will be uploaded to our website with the link shared on our social media platforms.”