The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has called on Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) monitoring electoral processes in the country to watch the conducts of politicians who are critical to the success of elections at all levels.

INEC’s national commissioner in-charge of operations, Hajiya Amina Zakari Biu, gave the advice at the review meeting of the Youth Initiative for Advocacy Growth and Advancement (YIAGA), one of the groups that monitored the just concluded election in Ondo State.

Hajiya Zakari decried the activities of some politicians before, during and after elections, saying such conducts could to a large extent determine the credibility of election results.

She said it might be difficult to get the peaceful atmosphere experienced during Ondo poll in Rivers State mainly because of the conducts of the politicians in that area.

The National Commissioner assured that the electoral body would continue to partner with all the stakeholders to further improve electoral process in the country.

Earlier, YIAGA’s Executive Director, Samson Itodo, had commended the electoral body for what he called an improved electoral process in the country, saying the group’s preliminary report on Ondo poll indicates that the election reflects the wishes of the people of the state.

He said the little hitches observed by his group were not enough to discredit the poll as there was improvement in both logistic, card readers’ functionality, conducts of the security and INEC personnel, timely distribution of election materials, among others.

Other stakeholders that spoke at the meeting called for welfare of the security personnel monitoring elections, saying their conduct can also determine the outcome of the poll.


Read more at http://www.dailytrust.com.ng/news/politics/watch-politicians-utterances-inec-tells-csos/174362.html#vVbHELZtBlp6eS7d.99

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