INEC tasks CSOs on peaceful elections in Edo, Ondo

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has advised Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to intensify advocacy and engagement with stakeholders for peaceful elections in Edo and Ondo States.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, gave the advice at the commission’s regular consultative forum with CSOs in Abuja on Tuesday, on the forthcoming governorship elections in the two states.

He also urged the CSOs to partner with registered voters in the two states to collect their Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs).

Yakubu said that following the conclusion of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) and data clean-up, the final voters register in the two states was 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 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,’’ he said.

Yakubu also advised the CSOs to submit the list of their observers for Edo election in good time to enable the commission process and produce their accreditation tags.

“As the Edo State Governorship approaches, I wish to remind CSOs to submit the list of your observers by uploading the required information, including photographs, to the dedicated portal.

“As at yesterday, Monday, 29th July, 56 organisations have uploaded the details of 894 observers for the Edo governorship election representing 33.6 per cent of the expected 2,660 observers.

“The deadline is Wednesday July 31 when the portal automatically shuts down at 6pm.

“I urge you to ensure that you meet the deadline so that the commission can produce the accreditation tags and deliver them to you for distribution to your observers in good time,’’ he said.

Yakubu said that for organisations that requested for additional slots for observers in the two states, INEC would consider each organisation’s request.

The INEC chairman said this would be based on previous experience, size, capacity and record of compliance with guidelines for election observation.

He reminded accredited observer groups to comply with the objectives of election observation and the Code of Conduct as contained in the commission’s rules of engagement for observers.

Dr Gabriel Nwambu of Centre for Credible Elections, speaking on behalf of the CSOs, commended INEC’s level of preparations for the two states elections.

Nwambu also commended INEC’s quick recovery from the flood that damaged some INEC facilities at its state headquarters office in Benin city two months ago.