The Independent National Electoral Commission has asked civil society organizations and non-governmental organizations interested in monitoring the February rerun and by-election to apply through an online portal by January 17.
On Thursday, INEC‘s acting Director of Electoral Party Monitoring, Hauwa Habib, issued a notification in Abuja stating this.
Habib advised the organizations to visit (http://observergroups.inecnigeria.org) and fill out the application form.
According to her, this was without prejudice to any earlier interaction with the commission, and completing the prescribed application form (EC14A(l)) remained the only acceptable method of application.
“Observer groups should particularly note that all other information, including legal status (registration with CAC), evidence of registration with the Civil Society Desk at INEC-Headquarters, evidence of registration, previous election observation with INEC (if any), and acknowledgment of submission of reports of observation (if any), should accompany the application.
“Any falsification of documents in the submissions will lead to automatic disqualification and possible prosecution.
“The deadline for submission of applications is January 17, 2024.
“The list of successful observer groups approved for accreditation will subsequently be published on the commission’s website and the EPM observer’s WhatsApp platform,” Habib said.
She went on to say that the by-election and re-run-election vacancies were spread among two senatorial districts, four federal seats, and three state constituencies in nine states.
She also stated that INEC is conducting the by-elections and re-run elections resulting from the 2023 general elections as instructed by various election petition appeal tribunals.
“Currently, 35 constituencies are affected by these court-ordered elections; while three cover entire constituencies, others involve only a few polling units.
“Both categories of elections are scheduled to take place simultaneously in all affected constituencies on Saturday, February 3,” Habib added.
The Chronicle NG reports that INEC will conduct reruns and bye-elections across the country in February 2024 to fill existing vacancies in the state and federal legislatures.
