Edo Guber: No accreditation for defaulting observer groups —INEC

Edo Guber: No accreditation for defaulting observer groups —INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has said it would no longer accredit civil society organisations and other bodies as observer groups, if they fail to submit their previous elections observation reports

INEC National Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, declared this, yesterday, in Abuja, at the first quarterly consultative meeting with Civil Society Organisations, CSOs.

Yakubu said INEC would continue to partner with CSOs, saying the commission appreciates the observations and recommendations contained in their election observation reports.

He said: “Some of the reforms and innovations introduced by the commission over the years drew from your observation reports.

“May I, therefore, seize this opportunity to remind those that are yet to submit their observation reports that it is mandatory to do so being one of the conditions for eligibility to observe future elections. Going forward, the Commission will operate strictly on the policy of ‘No Observation Report, No Accreditation.”

He said for the September 21, 2024 Edo State governorship election, 18 political parties conducted primaries monitored by the commission, adding that going by the provision of the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the election, the parties have 20 days from March 4, 2024 to upload the list and personal particulars of their candidates to INEC’s dedicated web portal, disclosing that eight parties have now filed their nominations.

16 parties indicate interest in Ondo guber

“Turning to Ondo State, political parties will commence their primaries for the Governorship election in the next two weeks. Sixteen political parties have indicated interest in participating in the election. I urge Civil Society Organisations to engage with political parties and observe their primaries just as you engage with INEC and deploy observers to the main election conducted by the Commission. By doing so, you will strengthen your advocacy for inclusivity for groups such as women, youths and Persons with Disability, PwD, that are under-represented in elective offices at national and state levels.”