By Julian Osamoto
A Civil Society Organisation Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI), says officially gazetting the 2026 Regulations and Guidelines for the Conduct of Elections is critical to ensuring credible as well as transparent elections in 2027.
The CSO urged Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to immediately publish the regulations in the Federal Government Gazette, saying the move would provide legal certainty and ensure all election stakeholders operate under the same authoritative framework.
In a statement signed by KDI executive director Bukola Idowu, on Monday August 3, says although INEC has released the regulations to the public, the absence of a gazetted version leaves the legal and operational framework for implementing the Electoral Act 2026 incomplete.
The organisation argued that gazetting the regulations would establish a single authenticated reference for political parties, candidates, election officials, observers, security agencies and voters, reducing the risk of disputes while strengthening public confidence in the electoral process.
With preparations for the 2027 general election underway, KDI said “early gazetting would give stakeholders enough time to study, understand and implement the regulations, helping to prevent avoidable legal and administrative disputes”.
Idowu, called on INEC to promptly gazette and widely disseminate the regulations, reaffirming the organisation’s commitment to promoting credible, transparent, inclusive and peaceful elections in Nigeria.
