The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Friday released the legal framework that will guide the 2023 general election.
INEC chairman Prof Mahmood Yakubu presented the guidelines in Abuja at a special meeting of the Inter-agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) to Review Security arrangements for the Ekiti Governorship election.
According to him, “On several occasions, the Commission has assured Nigerians that we are finalizing the Regulations and Guidelines for the elections. 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.
“With the release of the Regulations and Guidelines today, and the publication of the Strategic Plan (SP) 2022-2026 and Election Project Plan 2023 earlier, the Commission has virtually concluded the planning processes for the 2023 General Election nine months ahead of the election.”
The guidelines stipulated that only ballot papers with the official watermark and stamp prescribed by the Commission shall be counted by the presiding officer.
On the use of phones during voting, the guidelines said telephones and other electronic devices capable of taking pictures are not allowed in voting cubicles.
On overvoting, the guidelines stated that if the total number of votes cast at a Polling Unit exceeds the number of accredited voters at the Polling Unit, the result of the election for that Polling Unit shall be declared null and void, and a report in that regard shall be made to the Collation Officer.
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Also, on the margin of lead principles, the guidelines stated that “where the margin of lead between the two leading candidates in an election is not in excess of the total number of voters who collected their Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) in Polling Units where elections are postponed, voided or not held in line with Sections 24(2 & 3), 47(3) and 51(2) of the Electoral Act 2022, the returning officer shall decline to make a return for the constituency until polls have been conducted in the affected Polling Units and the results collated into the relevant forms for Declaration and Return.
“This is the Margin of Lead Principle and shall apply wherever necessary in making returns for all elections in accordance with these Regulations and Guidelines.”