INEC releases new guidelines for conduct of elections, bans phone from voting cubicle

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released the regulations and guidelines for the conduct of general elections in the country.

INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, announced this on Friday, June 3, at an event in Abuja.

According to him, “With the coming into force of the Electoral Act 2022, it has become necessary to review the commission’s regulations and guidelines to govern the conduct of elections.

The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), the Electoral Act 2022 and the regulations and guidelines constitute the electoral legal framework.

On several occasions, the commission has assured Nigerians that we are finalising the regulations and guidelines for the elections. I am glad to announce that the document is ready.”

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the regulations and guidelines are issued pursuant to Section 149 of the Electoral Act, 2022 and they supersede all other regulations and/or guidelines on the conduct of elections issued by the commission.

The 37-page document, released by Prof. Mahmood contains 106 guidelines and regulations for elections as well as health measures during conduct of elections.

Highlights of the document include Article 30, where the commission said that telephones and electronic devices capable of taking pictures are not allowed in polling booths.

Article 30, ‘Prohibition of the Use of Telephones and Other Electronic/Photographic Devices in the Voting Cubicle,’ states that, “Telephones and other electronic devices capable of taking pictures are not allowed in voting cubicles.

Voters may come to the Polling Unit with telephones and other electronic devices provided that they do not take them to the voting cubicles or take pictures of other voters while they are voting.”