INEC, security agencies must demonstrate integrity ­—EU observer

The Chief Observer, European Union Election Observation Mission, Maria Arena, has asked the Independent National Electoral Commission and security agencies to show their transparency and accountability in next month’s general elections.

She emphasised that the elections would give the country the opportunity to strengthen its democracy.

Arena, who is also a member of the European Parliament from Belgium, made the call in Abuja on Tuesday during the inauguration of the EU Election Observation Mission to Nigeria.

She said, “Transparency and accountability of all the institutions involved in the elections are absolutely essential for public trust and confidence in the process.

“We hope that INEC and also the security forces will provide clear real-time information on what they are doing and the action they had taken. INEC and the security forces need to be seen to work neutrally in all their actions from the leadership down.”

According to her,   EU EOM came to Nigeria at the invitation of  INEC to observe the elections.

She said, “We will assess the electoral process against Nigeria’s laws and international commitments in relation to democratic elections. We are here with a team of 11 election experts in Abuja, and 40 experienced long-term observers, who  were deployed  in  the country yesterday (Monday) to cover all states.”

The chief observer explained that the mission would issue a preliminary statement after the elections and a  final report including recommendations to improve future elections, two months after the electoral process.

Earlier, the observers visited President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House in Abuja, promising to be neutral and impartial while monitoring the elections.