Edo, Ondo Guber: INEC Gives Condition For Accreditation Of Observers

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said submission of reports from previous election monitoring will form the basis for the accreditation of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) that wish to monitor the forthcoming Edo and Ondo governorship election.

The commission had earlier observed that many CSOs that monitored the previous elections failed to submit their reports to the commission, which it explained, assist it in reviewing and improving its processes and procedures.

INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, at a quarterly consultative meeting with CSOs on Tuesday in Abuja, said some of the organisations were yet to submit their reports two months after the commission had drew attention to it.

Prof. Yakubu however called for submission of applications from the CSOs that wish to monitor the election “along with the required supporting documents and a realistic number of individual observers.”

Doing so, according to him, would enable the commission to produce and deliver the identity cards for observers in good time.

He warned that INEC would not entertain requests outside the deadline for the receipt of applications, from interested observer groups or process applications that do not meet the criteria.

Prof. Yakubu further solicited the assistance of the CSOs in sensitising people wishing to register during the 10 days continuous voter registration (CVR) exercise, and distribution of uncollected permanent voters’ cards (PVCs), in the two states.

He added that as campaign activities have been lifted, the CSOs should monitor the campaigns to ensure that the campaigns comply with the Electoral Act.