Chairman of Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, has warned Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) which are yet to submit their observation reports and recommendations for past elections including the last general elections and supplementary elections to do so or risk being denied accreditation for future engagement starting with the 2024 Off-cycle Elections.
The INEC chairman delivered the warning at the commission’s first quarterly meeting with leaders of CSOs at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja, Wednesday.
He said the commission would operate strictly on the policy of “No Observation Report, No Accreditation”, stating that some of the reforms and innovations introduced by the commission over the years, was drawn from different observation reports submitted by the CSOs.
He urged the CSOs to engage with political parties and observe their primaries just as they engage with INEC and deploy observers to the main election conducted by the commission.
According to him, by so doing, they will strengthen their advocacy for inclusivity for groups such as women, youths and Persons with Disability (PwD) that are under-represented in elective offices at national and state level.
Prof Yakubu assured the CSOs that INEC would continue to partner with them as he appreciates the observations and recommendations contained in the election observation reports submitted by some.
