INEC chairman Mahmood Yakubu says its regulations and guidelines will be ready at least 10 months before the next general election.

This is contained in the INEC Daily Bulletin issued on Tuesday.

Mr Yakubu gave a hint when he received a delegation from John D and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation in Abuja.

The INEC chairman recalled that in 2019, the commission was constrained by time due to the uncertainty that trailed the electoral legal framework, forcing the electoral body to sign off on the regulations and guidelines on January 19, 2019, few weeks to the election.

“But we hope that this time around, we will sign off on the regulations and guidelines at least 10 months before the next general election, which is very good progress for us.”

Speaking further on INEC’s source of power to develop the guidelines and regulations, Mr Yakubu explained that the electoral body was happy with the assent of President Muhammadu Buhari to the Electoral Bill.

“Our Election Project Plan (EPP) is ready and about to be published. The Strategic Plan is already completed and published. We also publish and gazette the guidelines and send the three documents to the stakeholders and general public next month,” he explained.

The president of John D and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, John Palfrey, commended INEC’s efforts.

“One was the progress of the Electoral Act, and I’d like to congratulate you on the passage of the Electoral Act. Second, we discussed and encouraged the creation of a new department on Gender and Inclusivity here at INEC and congratulate you on the creation of this department and the successful implementation,” said Mr Palfrey. 

He added, “The third thing we discussed was the creation of new polling units, and I understand that these too have been completed and that you are well in preparation for 2023.”

Mr Palfrey explained that the foundation visited INEC to learn more about the 2023 general election plans.

(NAN)