By Gideon Alfa
As part of its commitment to ensuring credible elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has organized a comprehensive training program for accredited observers.
This aims to ensure a seamless and transparent election process.
During the training session held at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja, Sam Olumekun, National Commissioner and Chairman of the Election and Party Monitoring Committee (EPMC), emphasized the importance of observers in the electoral process.
He highlighted the need for early preparation to enhance their understanding of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and election day procedures.
Olumekun provided detailed information on the accredited observers, stating,
By our records, a total of 153 applications were received from interested Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) for the two elections. After review and assessment as provided by our Regulations and Guidelines, 134 groups (124 domestic and 10 international) met the requirements for accreditation.
The classification of the accredited groups showed that 28 are gender-based, 3 represent persons with disabilities, 8 are faith-based, 10 international, and over 100 others working in areas relevant to the functions of the Commission. Most of these organizations have previous election observation experience. A few, however, have been granted observation for the first time to offer them opportunities to observe the election processes and contribute to assessing and improving democratic principles.
He further explained,
As accredited Observer Groups, you will be allowed access to observe all the election processes as outlined in the Commission’s Reviewed Regulations and Guidelines for the conduct of elections (available on INEC website: www.inecnigeria.org). Your organization is required to obtain an access code (Accreditation Number) and the number of field observers to be deployed for the Election and Party Monitoring (EPM) Department to enable you to process the online submission of your field observers on an LGA-by-LGA basis by completing the required forms online. You are to do this by uploading the names and passport photographs of your field observers to enable the Commission to issue them with Identity Cards.
Olumekun also stressed the importance of integrity, warning observers against violating the code of conduct, which could lead to the withdrawal of their accreditation.
I need to bring to your attention that your accreditation may be withdrawn at any stage of the election process if it is established that your organization is violating the Code of Conduct for observers as contained in the Guidelines for Election Observation available on the INEC website. Again, you are to be reminded that the accreditation of your organization to observe the elections is without financial obligations.
Additionally, Barr Hauwa Habib underscored the significance of election observation, emphasizing the responsibility of observers to be fully familiar with new equipment to report accurately from the field.
The commission seeks the support of observers to strengthen the nation’s democratic process by ensuring accountability and fairness.
