2019: INEC Chairman charges CSOs to educate citizens on electoral process

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has charged Civil Society Organizations (CSO’s) to be more proactive in educating Nigerians on the dynamics of electoral process.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu stated this during the Commission’s Civil Society Organisations (CSO’s) Dialogue held in Enugu on Monday.

Yakubu noted that there is need for CSO’s to increase their knowledge on rules and regulations guiding the conduct of elections said “I urge you to acquaint yourself with the law and the changes that have taken place since the last election.

The Nigerian people look up to civil society groups and organization for untainted analysis and clear understanding of issues in the electoral process.

“Let me also emphasize that as a society develops and as more innovations are brought to bear on the electoral process, civil society groups and organizations must strive to increase their knowledge and understanding of the nuances and dynamics of the electoral process.

Without a good knowledge of the constitutional and electoral framework regulating and guiding the conduct of elections, it will be difficult for civil society groups and organizations to inform properly, advocate rationally and Impart knowledge and sensitize the Nigerian people,” he said.

The INEC Chairman who was represented by the National Commissioner and Chairman Information and Voter Education Committee (IVEC) Barrister Festus Okoye who explained that the mission and the vision of the commission is to conduct free and fair election for sustenance of democracy enjoyed the CSO’s to act with integrity while engaging the citizens on the electoral process “and in a no-partisan manner,”

He said the aim of the dialogue meeting with the CSO’s is for them to endorse some of the innovations that will be deployed for the 2019 general elections adding “we would want the civil society groups to use this wonderful opportunity to interrogate ad proffer solutions to a wide number of issues

such as vote buying, internal party democracy and more especially gender inclusiveness and PWDs representation which have consistently remained low in spite of the efforts of the commission and other stakeholders.

In doing this, you will be adding value to the system ad also protect the collective interest of the people you represent”.

He said “As you are all aware the Commission has just emerged from the conduct of several off season governorship elections and has continued to improve with successive elections.

The 2019 general elections is a few months away, it is expected that the engagements between CSO and the commission will be more regular.

I must not fail to state that the CSO’s partnership with the commission has been of tremendous help in strengthening the electoral process through their observations reports, mobilization of citizens to participate and cast their votes in an informed manner and the issues they regard as appropriate and good in shaping and redefining policies.

“Your ideas and suggestion have also contributed immensely in drawing up the Commissions guidelines, manuals and regulations.

This meeting is not just to share ideas but to share knowledge and experiences from the people committed to the sustenance of democracy.

I therefore expect implementable suggestions, constructive criticisms, questions and answers in order to improve electoral process,” he added.

Prof. Yakubu thereby commended European Centre for electoral Support (ECES) for the support accorded to the commission in their efforts in conducting free and fair election for the sustenance of democracy.

In his remarks, the Project Coordinator of ECES, Mr. Rudolf Elbling commended INEC for its commitment towards strengthening its partnership with CSO’s across the country at the various stages of the electoral process.

He said “the conduct of this zonal dialogue and the next one slated for Kano next week points to this commitment.

It is my hope that this zonal dialogue will equip the CSO’s with the necessary information on their expected roles in the 209 election and also avail INEC of the much needed feedbacks to improve the electoral process,” he added.

Elbling assured INEC of their commitment to continue to support its engagements with critical stakeholders within the context of the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria.

Also speaking, the State Electoral Commissioner , Dr. Emeka Ononamadu called on all CSO’s to put hands on deck to ensure a credible and transparent election in 2019 saying “as we go into the election,

there will be distraction and wrong information so you need to educate the electorates to be focus in order to achieve a successful election.