The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) hereby invites registered Civil Society Organization (CSOs) and Non-Governmental Organization (NGOs) as well as other interested stakeholders whose work is on democracy, governance and election and who wish to observe the Bayelsa, Kogi and Imo governorship elections scheduled to hold on 11th November, 2023 to visit (http://observergroups.inecnigeria.org) and complete the application form. This is without prejudice to any previous correspondence with the Commission. Completion of the prescribed application form (EC14A(I)) remains the only accepted means of application.
- In view of the above, interested groups should complete the application Form (EC14A(I)) and submit same online along with other necessary documents (including evidence of past election observations).
- 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 previous election observation with INEC (if any), acknowledgment page of submission of reports of observation (if any) , etc, are to accompany the online application.
- Any falsification of documents in the submissions will lead to automatic disqualification and possible prosecution.
- The deadline for submission of application (EC14A (1)) is 7thSeptember, 2023. The list of successful observer groups approved for accreditation will subsequently be published in National Newspapers and on the Commission’s website.
ACCREDITATION OF SUCCESSFUL OBSERVER GROUPS
- Each successful group would be required to complete the online deployment of field observer’s Form (EC14A (ii)) and submit same.
- Successful observer groups should also note that passport photographs (in JPEG) Format of the individual observers to be deployed to the field shall be arranged on Local Government Area (LGA) basis and shall be submitted along with the deployment Form (EC14A (ii)). This is to enable the Commission produce identification/accreditation tags for deployed individual field observers.
- All successful observer groups will be required to sign the Commission’s Indemnity Form before receiving their accreditation letters.
9. NOTES ON ELECTION OBSERVATION EXERCISE
- Observer groups should note that the core principle of election observation as contained in relevant UN, AU, and ECOWAS treaties and protocols, as well as INEC guideline on Election observation (2008), which includes impartiality, objectivity and non-partisanship would guide the conduct of field observers during the election and any field observer or group found compromising those principles would be banned from future participation in election observation activities.
- COVID-19 PROTOCOLS
In accordance with the prevailing circumstance in the country, accredited observer groups are expected to comply with all the regulations and protocols on Covid-19 as issued by Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) Presidential Task Force and INEC guidelines on Covid-19 including provision of personal protective Equipment (PPE) such as face masks, hand gloves, and hand sanitizers, as well as maintain Social distancing by all their members that will operate in the field on Election day.
Details of Covid-19 Protocols as they relate to election are available at (www.inecnigeria.org)
Please be guided accordingly.
SIGNED: INDEPENDENT NATIONAL COMMISSION (INEC)
