The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has invited civil society organisations (CSOs) and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) interested in observing the February rerun and by-election to apply via an online portal on or before January 17.
In a notice released on Thursday in Abuja, Mrs. Hauwa Habib, the acting Director of Electoral Party Monitoring (EPM) at INEC, conveyed the commission’s message.
Habib recommended that interested organizations visit (http://observergroups.inecnigeria.org) to fill out the application form.
She emphasized that this process did not negate any prior communication with the Commission. However, Habib clarified that the exclusive and accepted method of application was the completion of the prescribed application form (EC14A(l)).
“Observer groups should particularly note that all other information, including legal status (registration with CAC), evidence of registration with the Civil Society Desk at INEC-Headquarters, evidence of registration, previous election observation with INEC (if any), acknowledgement of submission of reports of observation (if any), should accompany the application.
“Any falsification of documents in the submissions will lead to automatic disqualification and possible prosecution.
“The deadline for submission of applications is January 17, 2024.
“The list of successful observer groups approved for accreditation will subsequently be published on the commission’s website and the EPM observer’s WhatsApp platform,” Habib said.
She mentioned that the open positions for the by-election and re-run elections were distributed across two senatorial districts, four federal constituencies, and three state constituencies, covering nine states in the Federation.
She further explained that INEC was overseeing the by-elections and re-run elections as mandated by different election petition appeal tribunals, arising from the 2023 general elections.
“Currently, 35 constituencies are affected by these court-ordered elections; while three cover entire constituencies, others involve only a few polling units.
“Both categories of elections are scheduled to take place simultaneously in all affected constituencies on Saturday, Feb. 3,” Habib added.