INEC Accredits 146,913 Observers for General Election
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has approved the accreditation of 146,913 national and international observers for the general election.
The Chairman of the commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu stated this yesterday in Abuja, during a media briefing for accredited election observers for the 2023 general election.
Yakubu, however, warned that the observers must not interfere in the country’s electoral process or show partisanship.
The chairman said in line with global practice, electoral commissions in most jurisdictions invite national and international organisations to deploy observers or organise study tours for election managers during elections.
He said as a consequence, observers submit reports to electoral commissions highlighting strengths and weaknesses of processes, adding that election managers also learn from other jurisdictions.
The chairman noted that the reports and recommendations of observers and the knowledge from the study tours help electoral commissions to progressively improve processes.
He pointed out that the progressive improvement in the country’s electoral democracy since 1999, drew in part from the reports of observers and the study tours.
Yakubu stated: “For the 2023 general election beginning this weekend with the Presidential and National Assembly elections, the Commission has accredited 196 national or domestic groups that are collectively deploying 144,800 observers.
“Similarly, the Commission accredited 33 international organisations deploying 2,113 observers. In all, 229 groups are deploying 146,913 observers for the 2023 general election.
“This is the largest deployment of domestic and international observers in the history of elections in Nigeria.
“Today’s briefing for observers is in keeping with international good practice. I wish to remind observers that there is a code of conduct for election observation. You are by definition observers.
“Do not interfere with the process or show partisanship. In addition, international observers must be guided by the fact that the election is conducted by the federal republic of Nigeria whose sovereignty must be respected.”
The commission urged all observers, “to keep to the rules, listen to the presentation to be made shortly and ask questions where you require further clarification.”
