ELECTION OBSERVERS ARE ADVISED BY INEC CHAIRMAN TO AVOID PARTISANSHIP.

Professor Mahmood Yakubu, the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has advised local and foreign observers who would be watching how the general elections are run in the nation to distance themselves from the process.

At the briefing for authorized election observers held on Tuesday at the Commission’s Abuja headquarters, Yakubu offered the suggestion.

For the general election in 2023, around 229 groups of domestic and international observers will send out 146,913 observers.

Yakubu, who referred to the number as the greatest deployment of domestic and foreign observers in the history of Nigerian elections, insisted that the observers must avoid partisanship in accordance with the norms of engagement and international good practice.

I want to remind observers that there is a code of conduct for election observation, the speaker stated. By definition, you are observers. Avoid interfering or displaying partisanship. Also, the fact that the Federal Republic of Nigeria, whose sovereignty must be respected, is in charge of organizing the election, must serve as a guidance for international observers.

Yakubu declared that he was confident that, just like in previous elections, the Commission would find value in the findings and suggestions made by the observers of the upcoming general elections.

According to international best practices, most jurisdictions’ electoral commissions allow national and international organizations to send observers or arrange study trips for election managers during elections.

“As a result, observers provide reports to electoral commissions that identify the processes’ strengths and faults. Election managers gain knowledge from other jurisdictions as a result of study tours. Election commissions can gradually improve procedures with the aid of observers’ reports, suggestions, and knowledge gained from study tours.

“Since 1999, our electoral democracy has steadily improved, thanks in part to the reports of observers and study tours. For this reason, the Commission has periodically extended general or targeted invitations to domestic and foreign observers. All accredited observers are implied to be guests of INEC.