By Folorunso Alagbede, Abuja
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has disclosed that a total of 134 groups have been accredited to monitor the governorship elections which will hold in Edo and Ondo States later this year.
The disclosure was made in a statement issued on Monday by the Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee of INEC, Mr Sam Olumekun in Abuja .
The statement revealed that the Professor Mahmood Yakubu-led commission received a total of 153 applications from interested organisations, for this purpose.
Olumekun who is INEC National Commissioner, explained that out of the 134 accredited observers, 124 are domestic and 10 international groups.
According to him, “The classification of the organisations shows that 28 are gender-based, three representing persons with disability, eight are faith-based, 10 foreign and over 100 others working in areas relevant to the functions of INEC, most of them with previous experience of election observation”.
The National Commissioner stated that the next step would be for the accredited organisations to upload the personal details and photographs of their field observers to INEC’s dedicated portal established for that purpose.
He disclosed that the commission will organise a one-day training for representatives of observer groups on Wednesday, July 17 in Abuja.
“Access code to the portal and letters of accreditation will be given to representatives of the accredited organisations at the training venue,” Olumekun added.
He advised concerned organisations to visit INEC’s website and social media platforms for details of the one-day training as well as the comprehensive list of all the 134 accredited groups.
The statement by Olumekun reads in part, “In continuation of preparations for the 2024 Edo and Ondo State Governorship elections, the Commission is pleased to provide an update on the accreditation of observers for the elections.
“A total of 153 applications were received from interested organisations. After a review as provided by our regulations and guidelines, 134 groups (124 domestic and 10 international) met the requirements for accreditation.
“The classification of the organisations shows that 28 are gender-based, three representing Persons with Disability, eight are faith-based, 10 foreign and over 100 others working in areas relevant to the functions of INEC, most of them with previous experience of election observation.
“The next step is for the accredited organisations to upload the personal details and photographs of their field observers to our dedicated portal established for that purpose.
“To this end, the Commission is organising a one-day training for representatives of observer groups on Wednesday 17th July 2024 at the Commission’s Conference Room in Abuja at 10.00am.
“Access Code to the portal and letters of accreditation will be given to representatives of the accredited organisations at the training venue.
“Details of the one-day training as well as the comprehensive list of all the 134 accredited groups have been uploaded to our website and social media platforms for action by the concerned organisations and for public information”, the statement said.
