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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has warned election observer groups in the country accredited for the Edo and Ondo governorship polls to desist from violating its code of conduct.
INEC accredited about 134 local and international observer groups.
The classification of the accredited groups showed that 28 are gender-based, three represent persons with disability, eight are faith-based, 10 international and over 100 others working in areas relevant to the functions of the commission.
Speaking at a training session for election observers in Abuja, the National Commissioner and Chairman of the Election and Party Monitoring Committee, Sam Olumekun, said observers must adhere to the rules of INEC.
Olumekun said, “As accredited Observer Groups, you will be allowed access to observe all the election processes as outlined in the commission’s Reviewed Regulations and Guidelines for the conduct of elections available at the INEC website.
“However, your accreditation may be withdrawn at any stage of the election process if it is established that your organisation is violating the Code of Conduct for observers as contained in the Guidelines for Election Observation available on INEC website.
"Again, you are to be reminded that the accreditation of your organisation to observe the elections is without financial obligations on the commission.
“While there are quite a number of trustworthy, honest, objective, hard working and credible observer groups in the country who have contributed greatly to deepening democracy and the electoral process in Nigeria over the years, there are still others who have continued to display laxity about election observation and have cared less about the integrity of the entire process.”
Acting Director of Election and Party Monitoring, Hauwa Habib, urged the groups to update their records with the Corporate Affairs Commission.
