Welcome to OLLYJAY's Blog: INEC clears 16 international bodies, 72 others to observe Nigeria elections

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has cleared 88 observer groups, including 16 international bodies, to monitor next month’s general elections, starting with presidential and National Assembly elections on February 14.

The governorship and House of Assembly polls hold on February 28.

In a statement on Thursday, INEC said the approval of the 88 observer groups was sequel to their compliance with the requirements and guidelines issued by the Commission for accreditation of observers.

The international bodies accredited for the 2015 elections consist of diplomatic missions of nine countries in Nigeria, including those of United States, Switzerland, Britain, Germany, France, Japan, Republic of Ireland, Australia, and Canada.

Other non-state international bodies accredited for the elections are International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES); International Republican Institute (IRI); National Democratic Institute for International Affairs; UN Women; European Union Delegation to Nigeria; ECOWAS Mission; and African Students Association of Ireland.

Prominent among the 72 accredited domestic observer groups are Transition Monitoring Group, TMG; New Partnership for Africa’s Development, NEPAD; Nigeria Bar Association, NBA; Police Service Commission; Centre for Democracy and Development; National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, NIPSS; National Association of Women Journalist, NAWOJ etc.

The accredited groups are to obtain and complete form EPMC 02 for the elections from the Elections and Party Monitoring Department, INEC Headquarters, Abuja, between 8am and 4pm from Monday to Friday, starting from January 15 to 26, said the statement.

The Commission requested the accredited observer groups compile the photographs of their members with the names and submit hard and soft copies to the commission before January 26, “in order to ensure prompt processing of ID cards.”

“Please note that distribution of observer kits (including ID cards for individual observers) will be done by the EPM Desk officers at INEC state offices between February 10 and 13, 2015,’” the statement added.

Meanwhile, the Commission has emphasised that observer groups other than those listed found in the state for the elections shall be handed over to law enforcement agencies for prosecution. Also, accredited field observers found in the states other than where they are approved to go will equally be sanctioned, the Commission warned.

1 New Partnership For Africa’s Development (NEPAD) Local

2 Centre For Strategic Conflict Management (CSCM) Local

3 Global Agenda For Total Emancipation (GATE) Local

4 Citizens Right And Leadership Awareness Initiative Local

5 Justice Development And Peace Commission (Catholic Caritas Foundation Of Nigeria) Local

6 Fundamental Rights League International Local

7 Police Service Commission Local

8 Centre For Grassroot Development And Crime Prevention (CGDCP) Local

9 Centre For Civic Education (Aka) Transition Monitoring Group (TMG) Local

10 Centre For Policy Advocacy And Leadership Development (CPALD) Local

11 Election Monitor Local

12 Institute For Peace And Conflict Resolution Local

13 Society For Equity, Justice And Peace Local

14 Justice & Equity Organisation Local

15 Cleen Foundation Local

16 West African Network Of Election Observers (WANEO) Local

17 National Institute For Policy And Strategic Studies, Kuru Local

18 Youth Initiative For Advocay Growth And Advancement (YIAGA) Local

19 New Century Initiative Local

20 Centre For Strategey Ethics And Value Local

21 African Initiative For Sustainable And Positive Development Local

22 Connected Development Initiative (CODE) Local

23 Nigerian Civil Society Situation Room (Policy And Legal Advocacy Centre) Local

24 Research Initiative For Sustainable Development And Gender Awareness (RISDGA) Local

25 Global Network For Peace Building Local

26 African Peace Foundation Local

27 Community Life Project (CPL)/Reclaimnaija Local

28 Centre For Democracy And Development (CDD) Local

29 Global Women Empowerment Association Local

30 Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Local

31 Pan African LeadershipLeague(PALL) Local

32 United Forum For Grassroots Development Local

33 Organisation Of Patriotic Youths For Development Local

34 Committee For The Defence Of Human Rights Local

35 Rights Monitoring Group (RMG) Local

36 National Association For Peaceful Elections In Nigeria Local

37 Conac (Church Of Nigeria Communion) Local

38 Good Leadership For Community Development Initiative Local

39 Great Vision For Citizens Rights Initiative Local

40 Bright Way Englightenment Initiative Local

41 Gamji Members Association Local

42 Diaspora Advocacy For A New Down Initiative In Nigeria Local

43 African Centre For Leadership Strategy And Development Local

44 Centre For Human Protection And Development Local

45 Independent Election Monitoring Group Local

46 Human Rights Monitor Local

47 Alliance For Credible Election, Ace-Nigeria Local

48 Centre For Excellence, Leadership And Development (CELD) Local

49 Population And Environmental Monitoring Int’l Local

50 African Youths International Development Foundation Local

51 Nigerian Women Trust Fund Local

52 Global Initiative For African Development Local

53 Women Arise For Change Initiative Local

54 Women Initiative For A Better Nigeria Local

55 Nigeria Association Of Women Journalist (NAWOJ) Local

56 Civil Resource Development And Documentation Centre (Cirddoc) Nigeria Local

57 Centre For Credible Leadership & Citizens Awareness Local

58 Legal Aid And Self Development Initiative Local

59 Youth Progressive Minds For Better Change Initiative Local

60 Northern Youth And Eleders Awareness Forum Local

Coalition Of Democrats For Electoral Reforms Local

62 Democratic Action Group (Dag) Dispute Resolution & Development Initiative) Local

63 International Foundation Federation Of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Nigeria Abuja Branch Local

Friday, January 16, 2015

INEC clears 16 international bodies, 72 others to observe Nigeria elections

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has cleared 88 observer groups, including 16 international bodies, to monitor next month’s general elections, starting with presidential and National Assembly elections on February 14.

The governorship and House of Assembly polls hold on February 28.

In a statement on Thursday, INEC said the approval of the 88 observer groups was sequel to their compliance with the requirements and guidelines issued by the Commission for accreditation of observers.

The international bodies accredited for the 2015 elections consist of diplomatic missions of nine countries in Nigeria, including those of United States, Switzerland, Britain, Germany, France, Japan, Republic of Ireland, Australia, and Canada.

The accredited groups are to obtain and complete form EPMC 02 for the elections from the Elections and Party Monitoring Department, INEC Headquarters, Abuja, between 8am and 4pm from Monday to Friday, starting from January 15 to 26, said the statement.

The Commission requested the accredited observer groups compile the photographs of their members with the names and submit hard and soft copies to the commission before January 26, “in order to ensure prompt processing of ID cards.”

“Please note that distribution of observer kits (including ID cards for individual observers) will be done by the EPM Desk officers at INEC state offices between February 10 and 13, 2015,’” the statement added.

1 New Partnership For Africa’s Development (NEPAD) Local

2 Centre For Strategic Conflict Management (CSCM) Local

3 Global Agenda For Total Emancipation (GATE) Local

4 Citizens Right And Leadership Awareness Initiative Local

5 Justice Development And Peace Commission (Catholic Caritas Foundation Of Nigeria) Local

6 Fundamental Rights League International Local

7 Police Service Commission Local

8 Centre For Grassroot Development And Crime Prevention (CGDCP) Local

9 Centre For Civic Education (Aka) Transition Monitoring Group (TMG) Local

10 Centre For Policy Advocacy And Leadership Development (CPALD) Local

11 Election Monitor Local

12 Institute For Peace And Conflict Resolution Local

13 Society For Equity, Justice And Peace Local

14 Justice & Equity Organisation Local

15 Cleen Foundation Local

16 West African Network Of Election Observers (WANEO) Local

17 National Institute For Policy And Strategic Studies, Kuru Local

18 Youth Initiative For Advocay Growth And Advancement (YIAGA) Local

19 New Century Initiative Local

20 Centre For Strategey Ethics And Value Local

21 African Initiative For Sustainable And Positive Development Local

22 Connected Development Initiative (CODE) Local

23 Nigerian Civil Society Situation Room (Policy And Legal Advocacy Centre) Local

24 Research Initiative For Sustainable Development And Gender Awareness (RISDGA) Local

25 Global Network For Peace Building Local

26 African Peace Foundation Local

27 Community Life Project (CPL)/Reclaimnaija Local

28 Centre For Democracy And Development (CDD) Local

29 Global Women Empowerment Association Local

30 Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Local

31 Pan African LeadershipLeague(PALL) Local

32 United Forum For Grassroots Development Local

33 Organisation Of Patriotic Youths For Development Local

34 Committee For The Defence Of Human Rights Local

35 Rights Monitoring Group (RMG) Local

36 National Association For Peaceful Elections In Nigeria Local

37 Conac (Church Of Nigeria Communion) Local

38 Good Leadership For Community Development Initiative Local

39 Great Vision For Citizens Rights Initiative Local

40 Bright Way Englightenment Initiative Local

41 Gamji Members Association Local

42 Diaspora Advocacy For A New Down Initiative In Nigeria Local

43 African Centre For Leadership Strategy And Development Local

44 Centre For Human Protection And Development Local

45 Independent Election Monitoring Group Local

46 Human Rights Monitor Local

47 Alliance For Credible Election, Ace-Nigeria Local

48 Centre For Excellence, Leadership And Development (CELD) Local

49 Population And Environmental Monitoring Int’l Local

50 African Youths International Development Foundation Local

51 Nigerian Women Trust Fund Local

52 Global Initiative For African Development Local

53 Women Arise For Change Initiative Local

54 Women Initiative For A Better Nigeria Local

55 Nigeria Association Of Women Journalist (NAWOJ) Local

56 Civil Resource Development And Documentation Centre (Cirddoc) Nigeria Local

57 Centre For Credible Leadership & Citizens Awareness Local

58 Legal Aid And Self Development Initiative Local

59 Youth Progressive Minds For Better Change Initiative Local

60 Northern Youth And Eleders Awareness Forum Local

Coalition Of Democrats For Electoral Reforms Local

62 Democratic Action Group (Dag) Dispute Resolution & Development Initiative) Local

63 International Foundation Federation Of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Nigeria Abuja Branch Local

64 National Institute For Legislative Studies Local

65 Women Making Difference Initiative Local

66 Federation Of Muslim Women’s Organisation In Nigeria (FOMWAN) Local

67 Al-Habibiyyah Islamic Society Local

68 Centre For Women And Adolscent Empowerment Local

69 Centre For Social Justice Local

70 Unesco Centre Abuja (Human Rights And Civic Education) Local

71 Women’s International League For Peace And Freedom Local