INEC Accredits Group To Monitor Elections

THE Chairman Board of Trustees of Orient Foundation for Social Justice and Civic Education, Engr. Chris Okoye, has said the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has accredited his foundation to observe the 2015 General Elections. 

   Speaking to The Guardian after receiving the letter of accreditation from INEC, Okoye said the accreditation would help to check abuses, which had hitherto marred the conduct of credible elections in Nigeria, especially in the South-East geopolitical zone.

   He said: “Some of the abuses include violent disruption of voting at the polling booths, stuffing and switching of ballot boxes, forging of result sheets, ‘partisanship acts’ on the part of electoral staff and security operatives, outright declaration of bogus results and others. 

  “We believe these abuses can be checked with concerted efforts by concerned civil society organisations,” he said.

Okoye noted that his foundation would monitor and document their observations in every polling booth and collation centre.

 With the assurance of INEC, Okoye stated that results would be announced at every polling booth, adding that his organisation would post on its website the election results immediately they are released at the various polling booths.

  “We believe that this step would help to check the announcement of bogus results at collation centers,” he said.    

   Secretary to INEC, Mrs. Agusta Ogakwu in a letter enjoined the foundation to participate at all briefings in connection with the 2015 General Elections.

 “As an accredited observer, you are allowed to observe all the processes of the election, in line with the provisions contained in the guidelines for election observations,” the letter read.