…144,000 observers monitoring elections in 36 states
…to file reports, make recommendations
…promote transparency, deter malpractices
Nigeria’s ongoing elections for the offices of President, Senate, House of Representatives and Governorship, are being scrutinsed by 146,913 national and international observers who are present in all 36 states of the federation.
So said Professor Mahmood Yakubu, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Yakubu stated: “For the 2023 general election beginning this weekend with the Presidential and National Assembly elections, the commission has accredited 196 national or domestic groups that are collectively deploying 144,800 observers.
“Similarly, the commission accredited 33 international organisations deploying 2,113 observers. In all, 229 groups are deploying 146,913 observers for the 2023 general election.”
Yakubu further remarks:“This is the largest deployment of domestic and international observers in the history of elections in Nigeria.”
This speaks of the strategic significance of Nigeria in African and global politics and business. Refered to as the ‘Giant of Africa’ Nigeria is expected to firmly bear her weight and then tow her neighbours along in a big brother role.
Election monitoring involves the observation of an election by one or more independent parties, typically from another country or from a non-governmental organisation (NGO) says Wikipedia.
The monitoring parties aim primarily to assess the conduct of an election process on the basis of national legislation and of international election standards.
Monitors do not directly prevent electoral fraud, but rather record and report instances of suspicious practices. Election observation increasingly looks at the entire electoral process over a long period of time, rather than at election-day proceedings only.
Significantly, the legitimacy of an election can be affected by the criticism of monitors and this can affect the way that other countries relate with a nation perceived as tainted. As such an immediate impact of the presence of monitors is to act as deterrent to election malpractices.
A notable individual is often appointed honorary leader of a monitoring organisation in an effort to enhance legitimacy of the monitoring process.
In this case, former Malawian President, Dr. Joyce Banda, is leading a 40-member international election observation mission.
The team was deployed jointly by a United States-based political think-tank, International Republican Institute, and the National Democratic Institute (NDI).
The delegation includes political leaders, civil society elections experts, and regional specialists from 20 countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, and North America.
After election day, observers remain in the country for another few weeks to monitor how possible election-related shortcomings and complaints are dealt with by the election administration and the judiciary. The findings of the observers are made public in reports issued after election day.
INEC’s chairman, Yakubu, said that in line with global practice, electoral commissions in most jurisdictions invite national and international organisations to deploy observers or organise study tours for election managers during elections.
He said as a consequence, observers submit reports to electoral commissions, highlighting strengths and weaknesses of processes, adding that election managers also learn from other jurisdictions.
Yakubu further observed that some of the progress made in Nigeria’s democratic procedures since 1999 were the outcome of reports of observers and the study tours.
As Nigeria’s 2023 elections progress, it is hoped that we have learnt well enough to deliver on transparency and due process in the electoral scheme and that this will translate into responsible governance and an improved quality of life for Nigerians across the board.
