2015 elections: Insecurity affected deployment of field observers – INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has attributed the reduction in the number of field observers deployed to monitor the conduct of the 2015 general elections to the security challenges in the country.

Acting Chairperson of the Commission, Mrs. Amina Bala Zakari, in a goodwill message to post-election workshop in Abuja Tuesday, regretted that the general elections came at a time the nation was facing serious security challenges with attendant violent militia agitation in the North East where many lives were lost.

Mrs. Zakari, who was represented by Ambassador Lawrence Nwuruku, a National Commissioner at the Commission, noted that one of the fallouts of the security situation was the reduction in the number of field observers deployed by accredited observer groups.

She, however, observed that the establishment of INEC Situation Room improved the relations between the commission and the observer groups.

“This has made it possible for the commission to respond rapidly to certain urgent observations made by observers,” Mrs. Zakari added.

She noted that unlike the past, INEC does not have to wait for months after elections to receive reports, when it could intervene during elections to solve problems.

“The real-time reports of events in the field to the Situation Room and use of social media and the rapid intervention of the Commission when necessary have improved the quality of the electoral process and improved confidence between observers and the commission especially during the 2015 general election,” the INEC boss noted.

She said that the observers report on the 2011 general elections were like a guide book for INEC’s preparation for the 2015 general elections.

Chairman, Election and Party Monitoring Committee of INEC, Dr. Muhammed Wali, however, regretted that only 50 out of 108 domestic observer groups accredited by the commission to monitor the general elections, ‎have so far submitted their reports.