As the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) proposes fresh supplementary guidelines to clarify the process of reviewing election declarations under Section 65 of the Electoral Act, the move is timely, but not nearly enough on its own.

Development Diaries reports that ahead of the 2027 general elections, the INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, has revealed plans to release supplementary regulations to guide the review of declarations and returns during elections.

According to media reports, Yakubu expressed concern over the varying interpretations of Section 65 of the Electoral Act 2022, which grants INEC the authority to review election results already declared under certain circumstances.

It is understood that the commission is developing a supplement to the current Regulations and Guidelines for the Conduct of Elections (2022) to provide clearer direction on the review process.

The move is timely, but it cannot stand alone.

In the 2023 general elections, Yiaga Africa documented over 1,535 critical incidents, including disruption of polls, violence, and manipulation of results, many of which were never addressed through any formal review process.

While clarity in procedure is important, the commission must go beyond adjusting paperwork if it genuinely hopes to restore public trust.

Nigerians are not only seeking new rules; they are demanding credible, consistent enforcement that prioritises the sanctity of the vote over political convenience.

Yiaga Africa, a key voice in election monitoring, has rightly welcomed this development while sounding an important note of caution.

The effectiveness of these guidelines will depend largely on whether INEC creates space for other electoral actors, like party agents and accredited observers, to submit credible reports of malpractice.

Restricting submissions to INEC officials risks turning the process into a closed loop that shields wrongdoers rather than exposing them.

In a country where electoral compromise is often internal, limiting oversight to insiders is a dangerous gamble.

Moreover, Section 65 of the Electoral Act was intended to be a tool for accountability, not a discretionary lifeline for the commission to use only when convenient.

The 2023 elections highlighted the urgent need for INEC to act swiftly and transparently when irregularities arise, not hide behind procedural vagueness.

These new guidelines must therefore come with mechanisms for public reporting, detailed timelines, and visible enforcement in both upcoming off-cycle and general elections.

INEC must also strengthen internal accountability across all levels, from Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) to ad hoc staff.

Guidelines alone will not build trust if those entrusted with implementation are not credible. The commission must ensure that staff found complicit in election malpractice are sanctioned and that review outcomes are publicly documented to prevent secrecy or selective action.

Citizens need to see that INEC not only writes the rules but applies them without fear or favour.

Development Diaries therefore calls on INEC Chairman Yakubu to now match intent with action. As the 2027 elections approach, the credibility of Nigeria’s democracy will rest heavily on INEC’s ability to enforce its own laws.

Nigerians do not want more speeches or uploads to websites, they want justice at the polling unit and transparency in every tally. The question is no longer whether INEC knows what to do, but whether it is willing to do it.