EDO GOVERNORSHIP ELECTION: INEC to revoke accreditation of any observer group that violates election Code of Conduct

Oru Leonard 

The Independent National Electroal Commission (INEC), has said the  Commission will revoke accreditation of any individual observer or observer group that violates Code of Conduct contained in the 22-page document entitled “Briefing for Observers.

The INEC Chairman Professor Mahmood Yakubu disclosed in his address during the third regular quarterly consultative meeting with the CSOs on the preparation for Edo state governorship elections in Abuja on Tuesday.

He reminded the CSOs of their obligation as observers to comply with the objectives of election observation and the Code of Conduct contained in the Commission’s rules of engagement for accredited election observers.

He disclosed that 56 organisations have uploaded the details of 894 observers for the Edo State Governorship election representing 33.6% of the expected 2,660 observers.

Professor Mahmood also reminded the CSOs that the deadline for submitting and uploading the list of their observers required information, including photographs, to the dedicated portal ends on Wednesday 31st July 2024 when the portal automatically shuts down at 6pm.

He then urged CSOs to ensure that they meet the deadline so that the Commission can produce the accreditation tags and deliver them for distribution to their observers in good time.

The INEC Chairman informed that the Commission is aware that some organisations have not only responded in good time, but have also requested for additional slots for observers to deploy across the two States.

He promised that the Commission would consider such requests observation and urged CSOs to intensify their advocacy for peaceful elections, including engagement with stakeholders.

“I am glad to report that we have recovered from the torrential rainfall that resulted in the severe flooding of our State Headquarters in Benin City two months ago.

“The damage to the physical infrastructure as well as movable and immovable facilities are being fixed or replaced.

“We have delivered additional Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines to Edo State for the training of election duty personnel as well as contingency for Election Day support.

“The amended list is already published on our website.

“Following the conclusion of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR), the display of the register for claims and objections by citizens, and further data clean-up using the Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS), the final register for the forthcoming Governorship elections is being finalised.

“Before the end of this week, the Commission will publish the final figures of new voters in the two States as well as their distribution by gender, age, occupation and disability.

“Thereafter, the timetable for the collection of uncollected Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) from previous registration, and new registrants from the latest CVR, will be published.

“Based on the information provided by the Commission, we look forward to your partnership in encouraging citizens to collect their PVCs.

“The Commission finds the recent event in Edo State resulting in the death of a security personnel worrisome.

“Happily, there has been no incident known to the Commission since then.

“Nevertheless, the Commission will meet with the security agencies as early as Friday this week under the auspices of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES).

“I want to assure you that security in Edo and Ondo will be a major issue for discussion at the meeting.

“We are as concerned about the safety of candidates, agents and supporters as we are about the security of our own officials, observers, journalists, service providers and, above all, the voters.

“Turning to the issue of bye-elections, you may recall that at our last meeting, the Commission informed you of the existence of vacancies in four States, involving three State Constituencies and one Federal Constituency.

“Since then, two more vacancies have been declared by the Honourable Speaker of the House of Representatives following the death of the members representing Ibadan North Federal Constituency of Oyo State and the Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency of Kaduna State.

“The Commission will soon announce the dates for the bye-elections” INEC Chairman reiterated.