The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has told civil society organisations (CSOs) that their continued participation in the electoral process will depend on their submission of reports on the elections they monitored.
Speaking yesterday in Abuja at a quarterly consultative meeting with CSOs involved in monitoring elections in the country, INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu said CSOs that fail to submit reports from previous exercises may not be accredited to participate in future polls.
The INEC chairman advised them to submit their applications for accreditation as election observers for the September 21 governorship elections in Edo State.
He said: “As we inch closer to Election Day in Edo State, it is also imperative to remind CSOs of the need to submit your applications for election observation in earnest along with the required supporting documents and a realistic number of individual observers.
“Doing so will enable the commission to produce and deliver the identity cards for observers in good time. The commission will not entertain requests outside the deadline for the receipt of applications from interested observer groups or process applications that do not meet the criteria.
“For emphasis, the submission of reports from previous accreditation in the manner required by the commission is mandatory for continuous participation in election observation.
“Since our last meeting two months ago, many accredited observers have submitted their reports but a few are yet to do so. We urge you to do the needful. Your reports are important for us in reviewing and improving our processes and procedures.”
Yakubu also announced some vacancies in National and State Assemblies following the death or resignation of some lawmakers in three State Assembly constituencies and one Federal Constituency in four states across the country.
