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European body meets INEC over 2019

By From Bridget Chiedu Onochie, Abuja and Akin Alofetekun, Minna
17 November 2018   |   3:07 am
The European Centre for Electoral Support (ECES) said it is collaborating with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure the conduct of free, fair and credible polls come 2019 general elections. Mr Rudoff Elbling, Project Coordinator, ECES Nigeria disclosed this in Minna while inaugurating a two-day workshop for officials of INEC in the North…

Ambassador of Belgium to Nigeria, Daniel Dargent (middle); his wife Carole (second-left); Executive Secretary, Paulette Van Trier (left); Deputy Head of Mission of the Embassy, Veronique Bernard, and Second Deputy to the Belgium Ambassador, Roos Willems on the occasion of the Belgian King’s Day in Lagos PHOTO: FEMI ADEBESIN-KUTI

The European Centre for Electoral Support (ECES) said it is collaborating with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure the conduct of free, fair and credible polls come 2019 general elections.

Mr Rudoff Elbling, Project Coordinator, ECES Nigeria disclosed this in Minna while inaugurating a two-day workshop for officials of INEC in the North Central geo-political zone.

“It is my hope that the conduct of zonal workshops on the Election Monitoring Support Centre will lay solid basis for the conduct of free, fair and credible elections in 2019.

“It will also sensitise participants on their expected roles before, during and after the elections,” he said Elbling, who was represented by Dr Isiaka Yahaya, Senior Election Expert at the centre said the exercise would familiarise functionaries of the commission with the structure and operational frameworks of the Election Monitoring and Support Centre (EMSC).

He said EMSC was a tool that INEC requires to effectively manage field assets, resources, constituencies and chains of electoral activities in organising elections.

The Project Coordinator said the measure was also an innovative way to monitor election plans and implementation of electoral activities that could assist INEC in evaluating its readiness for an election.

According to him, ECES is delighted that INEC has taken a giant stride in the integration of the Election Project Plan (EPP) and Election Management System (EMS) for effective implementation and monitoring of election activities.”

He said that ECES was proud to support the laudable initiative which seeks to ensure free, fair and smooth conduct of the 2019 general elections.

Also, Prof Samuel Egwu, INEC, Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state urged the commission to give priority attention to providing facilities for the EMSC across the country to enable staff discharge their duties effectively.

Egwu said INEC has moved from planning stage to implementation stage in trying to ensure credible elections in 2019.

He lauded the ECES for supporting the commission in its efforts to ensure credible 2019 elections.

Meanwhile, an Abuja-based human rights activist, Kayode Ajulo, has blamed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for according recognition and accepting names of all candidates submitted by the All Progressives Congress ahead of the 2019 general elections.

Ajulo noted that in spite of illegality that characterised the primary election in several states, INEC out of sentiment for the party, accepted list of candidates.

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