By Harry Awurumibe, Editor, Abuja Bureau
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC has called on Civil Society Organizations, (CSOs) to submit applications for election observation for the two important governorship elections in Edo and Ondo states.
This is even as the Commission has warned CSOs that submission of reports for previous observations is mandatory for continuous participation in election observation in Nigeria, saying that offenders will be blacklisted accordingly.
INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu made this known during the 2nd Quarterly Consultative Meeting with the leadership of CSOs at INEC Conference Room in Abuja on Tuesday.
Yakubu made it clear to the CSOs that submission of applications with the supporting documents early would enable the Commission to produce identity cards for observers in good time.
According to the INEC boss, submission of reports for previous observations is mandatory for continuous participation in election observation.
The Chairman passionately appealed to CSOs to join the ongoing voter education for eligible citizens to participate in the forth coming Ten days Continuous Voter Registration in Edo and Ondo states.
He said the Commission will open registration centers in all political wards across the two states to ease the exercise.
Yakubu appealed to the civil society organizations to join hands with INEC towards strengthening democratic governance in the country.
Speaking on behalf of the CSOs, Dr. Paddy Njoku of the International Institute of Leadership and Governance (IILG) commended INEC for carrying stakeholders including CSOs along in the nation’s electoral process.
He assured that the CSOs will leave up to expectations.
