No observation report, no accreditation, INEC tells CSOs ahead of future polls 

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it will not accredit civil society organisations (CSOs) that fail to submit their reports after monitoring elections.

Mahmood Yakubu, INEC chairman, spoke in Abuja on Wednesday at the commission’s first quarterly consultative meeting with CSOs for 2024.

Yakubu said INEC values the observations and recommendations contained in the CSOs’ elections observation reports, adding that reforms are drawn from them.

He called on those yet to submit their reports for the 2023 general election, off-cycle and re-run polls to do so.

“Some of the reforms and innovations introduced by the commission over the years, were drawn from your observation reports,” the INEC chairman said.

“However, while many of you submitted their reports, some accredited observers are yet to do so for the last general elections, supplementary elections, off-cycle elections, by-elections and re-run elections.

“May I, therefore, seize this opportunity to remind those yet to submit their observation reports that it is a mandatory condition for eligibility to observe future elections.

“Going forward, the commission will operate strictly on the policy of no observation report, no accreditation.”

Yakubu said the CSOs should also engage and observe political parties primaries for the Ondo state governorship election for inclusivity and credibility.

“Political parties in Ondo state will begin their primaries for the governorship election in the next two weeks. Sixteen political parties have indicated interest to participate in the election,” he said.

“I urge CSOs to engage with political parties and observe their primaries just as you engage with INEC and deploy observers to the main election conducted by the commission.

“By doing so, you will strengthen your advocacy for inclusivity for groups such as women, youths and Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) that are under-represented in elective offices at national and state levels.”

Mufuliat Fijabi, executive director, sustainable gender action initiative, pledged that the CSOs would also strengthen their observations of parties’ primaries, leading to the emergence of candidates for elections.

Fijabi said observation of the primaries remained important, noting that there is a need for more inclusive election in the country that would reflect representation of more women, youth and PWDs.

She asked CSOs yet to submit their observation reports for previous elections to INEC to also do so.

“I am quite optimistic that my colleagues here, who are yet to turn in their reports will expedite actions to ensure that all pending reports are forwarded to the commission,” she said.

“I also agree with the fact that to have a robust electoral process in Nigeria, feedback is very important from both INEC and the CSOs.”