Election Observation is thus a necessity for improvement of election processes in Nigeria. Participation by election observers in electoral processes has also aided in fostering integrity and transparency in the system thus, observers as tools can aid in building the trust of the electorates on an election where it is credible. Reports from non-patrician observer groups’ exposes tricks used to undermine electoral processes by various actors. This helps the government, CSOs and foreign organizations to focus their efforts on addressing critical challenges in vote trading, election rigging, voters’ oppression etc.
Considering the current state of Nigeria’s Economy, the Nigerian people especially the youths are demanding for free, fair, credible, peaceful and successful election. The call to elect leaders with strength in character has also gain major attention in the political atmosphere. Thus, there is a need for election observers to pay close attention to the 2023 General Election, promote transparency, expose corruption in the process and determine if the process meets national and international expectations.
The analysis will help us know the level of recent exposure of accredited observer to observing a General Election using a 10 years criteria.
Only a total of 43% of accredited domestic organization are exposed to observing General elections in the last 10 years while 60% of accredited foreign organization are exposed to observing General elections in Nigeria in the last 10 years.
The purpose for domestic organisations without exposure to general election in last decade occupying 57% of accredited domestic group remains unclear. Except for call for application, there was also no available data to show the accreditation process and how it was followed – How individual organisation performed in assessment that led to accreditation.
This then suggests the following:
- That the INEC has not given major attention to the importance of observer groups to fostering credible elections.
- That the accreditation process can encourage corruption and compromise the resulting output of the observation system.
- That this could be a deliberate act by the electoral commission to compromise the transparency in 2023 general elections.
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