A Benin, Edo State-based
Non-Governmental Organisation, Africa Network for Environment and
Economic Justice, on Thursday protested against the Independent National
Electoral Commission’s non-accreditation of civil society groups from
the state to monitor the July 14 Edo governorship election.
Addressing journalists in Benin, ANEEJ’s
Executive Director, David Ugolor, described INEC’s decisions not to
recognise Edo-based NGOs, importance in monitoring the governorship poll
as a ploy designed by the electoral body to help rig the elections.
Ugolor said it would be in the interest of INEC to continue to be seen as unbiased and fair.
He said, “As a leading civil society
organisation based in Edo State, with rich knowledge and experience in
election monitoring and observation, we are utterly dismayed that of the
over 28 civil society organisations accredited by INEC as domestic
observers, none is from Edo state.
“We are shocked at INEC’s decision
because most NGOs in the state which applied for observation were
qualified even more than some of the accredited organisations.
“We suspect that the decision is designed to cover up to manipulate the outcome of the election.
“We call on INEC to consider immediate
accreditation of Edo State-based NGOs which applied to observe the
election as domestic observers and avoid setting a dangerous precedence
for the future, which is capable of making a mockery of Nigeria’s
democracy.”
He added, “We have always adopted a
non-violent approach, but we have also come to understand that the
language that this government understands is violence. We will not adopt
the violent trend, but we do also have the capacity to make the process
ungovernable to INEC and that is what we have said, that before Sunday,
if INEC will not come out with a good feedback, we will go on the
streets.”
But INEC National Commissioner, Ishmael
Igbani, said on Thursday that the NGOs that applied for election
monitoring in the July 14, Edo governorship election were disqualified
because they did not meet up with INEC criteria.
Igbani, who is the chairman, Election Monitoring and Observation Committee, made this known to the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja.
He said the criteria included previous
experience in similar exercise anywhere in the World or within Nigeria,
registration of the NGO with the Cooperate Affairs Commission, and other
statures.
Igbani said application could be
rejected if submitted after the deadline for submission or when
applications submitted were incomplete, inaccurate or submitted by an
ineligible body .Source
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