The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has issued a call to Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) across the world to participate as election observers for the upcoming February rerun and by-election. The application deadline for interested organizations is Jan. 17, 2024.

In a notice released by the acting Director of Electoral Party Monitoring, Hauwa Habib, the INEC emphasized the need for interested parties to apply through the designated online portal (observergroups.inecnigeria.org) and complete the required application form, EC14A(l). This call for applications is open to both new and previously accredited observer groups.

The application process necessitates submission of essential documents, including proof of legal status (registration with CAC), evidence of previous registration with INEC’s Civil Society Desk, and acknowledgment of the submission of observation reports from previous election exercises. Mrs. Habib warned that any falsification of documents would result in automatic disqualification and potential prosecution.

The deadline for application submission is Jan. 17, 2024. Following this, the list of successful observer groups approved for accreditation will be published on the INEC website and the EPM observer’s WhatsApp platform.

The upcoming by-elections and rerun elections span across two Senatorial Districts, four Federal Constituencies, and three State Constituencies, covering nine states of the Federation. These elections were necessitated by directives from various election petition appeal tribunals following the 2023 general elections. A total of 35 constituencies are affected by these court-ordered elections, with some encompassing entire constituencies, while others involve only specific polling units.

The slated date for these elections is Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024. INEC has mandated that the by-elections and rerun elections in all affected constituencies will be conducted simultaneously.

This call for global election observers by INEC marks a significant step towards ensuring transparency and credibility in Nigeria’s electoral processes.