The Independent National Electoral
Commission, INEC, has cleared 88 observer groups, including 16
international bodies, to monitor next month’s general elections,
starting with presidential and National Assembly elections on February
14.
The governorship and House of Assembly polls hold on February 28.
In a statement on Thursday, INEC
said the approval of the 88 observer groups was sequel to their
compliance with the requirements and guidelines issued by the Commission
for accreditation of observers.
The international bodies accredited
for the 2015 elections consist of diplomatic missions of nine countries
in Nigeria, including those of United States, Switzerland, Britain,
Germany, France, Japan, Republic of Ireland, Australia, and Canada.
Other non-state international bodies
accredited for the elections are International Foundation for Electoral
Systems (IFES); International Republican Institute (IRI); National
Democratic Institute for International Affairs; UN Women; European Union
Delegation to Nigeria; ECOWAS Mission; and African Students Association
of Ireland.
Prominent among the 72 accredited
domestic observer groups are Transition Monitoring Group, TMG; New
Partnership for Africa’s Development, NEPAD; Nigeria Bar Association,
NBA; Police Service Commission; Centre for Democracy and Development;
National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, NIPSS; National
Association of Women Journalist, NAWOJ etc.
The accredited groups are to obtain
and complete form EPMC 02 for the elections from the Elections and Party
Monitoring Department, INEC Headquarters, Abuja, between 8am and 4pm
from Monday to Friday, starting from January 15 to 26, said the
statement.
The Commission requested the
accredited observer groups compile the photographs of their members with
the names and submit hard and soft copies to the commission before
January 26, “in order to ensure prompt processing of ID cards.”
“Please note that distribution of
observer kits (including ID cards for individual observers) will be done
by the EPM Desk officers at INEC state offices between February 10 and
13, 2015,’” the statement added.
Meanwhile, the Commission has
emphasised that observer groups other than those listed found in the
state for the elections shall be handed over to law enforcement agencies
for prosecution. Also, accredited field observers found in the states
other than where they are approved to go will equally be sanctioned, the
Commission warned.
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