The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has accredited 134 observer groups for the upcoming Edo and Ondo governorship elections, set for September 21 and November 16, 2024.
In a statement released yesterday, Sam Olumekun, INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, outlined that of the 134 observer groups, 124 are domestic and 10 are international. The selection process was thorough, with 153 applications initially received.
Olumekun highlighted the diversity of the accredited groups. “The classification of the organisations shows that 28 are gender-based, three representing Persons with Disability, eight are faith-based, 10 foreign and over 100 others working in areas relevant to the functions of INEC, most of them with previous experience of election observation,” he stated.
The next step for these organisations involves uploading the personal details and photographs of their field observers to a dedicated portal set up by INEC. This will help streamline the observation process and ensure that all necessary information is easily accessible.
To prepare the observers for their roles, INEC has scheduled a one-day training session for representatives of the observer groups. This training will take place on Wednesday, July 17, 2024, at 10:00 am in INEC’s Conference Room in Abuja. During this session, representatives will receive the access code to the portal and their letters of accreditation.
Details of the training and a comprehensive list of the 134 accredited groups have been made available on INEC’s website and social media platforms. This ensures that both the organisations involved and the general public are well informed.
Olumekun emphasized the importance of this step in the electoral process, noting that the observers play a critical role in maintaining the transparency and integrity of the elections. The accredited groups are expected to provide unbiased reports on the election proceedings, helping to ensure a fair and credible electoral process in Edo and Ondo states.
