INEC Begins Accreditation of Observers for Edo, Ondo Governorship Elections

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has begun the accreditation process for observer groups for the upcoming governorship elections in Edo and Ondo states. The elections are scheduled to take place on September 21, 2024, for Edo State and November 16, 2024, for Ondo State.

INEC has accredited 134 observer groups for these elections, which will be crucial in ensuring the smooth conduct of the polls. The commission has invited registered Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) to apply for observer status. Interested groups are required to complete an application form and submit it along with necessary documents, including evidence of past election observations.

The deadline for submission of applications is June 10, 2024. Successful observer groups will be required to complete online deployment forms and submit passport photographs of individual observers. All observers must adhere to the principles of impartiality, objectivity, and non-partisanship during the election observation exercise.

This accreditation process is part of INEC's efforts to ensure transparency and credibility in the elections, which are critical to the democratic process in Nigeria. The commission's guidelines for election observation are based on relevant UN, AU, and ECOWAS treaties and protocols, as well as INEC's own guidelines on election observation.

As the elections approach, INEC's focus on observer accreditation underscores the importance of independent monitoring in ensuring free and fair elections.