By Nkechi Eze
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released a set of supplementary regulations and guidelines to clarify the procedures for reviewing election results, while also confirming that it has now received 122 applications from associations seeking registration as political parties. These developments were disclosed during the Commission’s weekly meeting held on Thursday, 3rd July 2025, in Abuja.
In an official statement issued by the National Commissioner and Chairman, Information & Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, it was disclosed that after the meeting, INEC revealed that the session deliberated extensively on two critical issues: the need to provide clarity on the interpretation and implementation of Section 65 of the Electoral Act 2022 regarding the review of election results, and the current status of applications submitted by political associations aspiring to become registered political parties.
The Commission recalled that during its recent engagements with stakeholders, it had promised to provide updates on both matters in the spirit of transparency and inclusiveness. It has now delivered on that promise with specific decisions aimed at strengthening the electoral process and enhancing public trust.
Supplementary Regulations for Election Result Review
INEC affirmed that the proviso to Section 65 of the Electoral Act 2022 empowers the Commission to review any declaration or return made during an election that is found to be involuntarily conducted or inconsistent with the provisions of the law, as well as the regulations and guidelines for elections.
In response to the varying interpretations of Section 65 by political actors, legal analysts, and civil society organisations, the Commission has now exercised its authority to issue supplementary regulations and guidelines under its powers to ensure clarity and effective administration of the Act.
The newly approved Supplementary Regulations and Guidelines for the Review of Election Results have been published as Supplementary No.1 to the main Regulations and Guidelines for the Conduct of Elections 2022. These documents provide clear procedures and timelines to be followed in the event of any review of declaration and return of results. The supplementary regulations have been uploaded to INEC’s official website and disseminated across other public platforms to ensure maximum accessibility to all stakeholders.
Updates on Political Party Registration Applications
The Commission also provided an update on the ongoing processing of applications from political associations seeking registration as political parties. INEC reminded the public that it had earlier announced the receipt of 110 applications as of Monday, 23rd June 2025. As of Wednesday, 2nd July 2025, an additional 12 applications had been received, bringing the total number to 122.
The Commission emphasized that it is handling the applications with a strong commitment to transparency, fairness, and strict adherence to the provisions of the Electoral Act and its Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties 2022. To ensure transparency, the full list of the 12 newly received applications including the names of associations, acronyms, official addresses, and details of interim Chairmen and Secretaries has been uploaded to INEC’s website and other communication platforms for public access.
INEC further revealed that one of the associations has already amended its application due to a defection involving its interim Secretary, who reportedly moved to another political association. The Commission noted that while it remains committed to reviewing all applications objectively, consistency in the leadership structure and registered addresses of applicants is critical to avoid delays in the evaluation and approval processes.
To that end, INEC issued an appeal to all applying associations to maintain the stability of their proposed leadership and contact information, warning that any inconsistencies introduced by the associations themselves may inadvertently hinder the timely processing of their applications.
