INEC warns monitors against manipulation

INEC said while election observation enhances transparency, credibility and promotes public confidence on results, monitors must uphold the tenets of the assignment before, during and after the elections.
This was contained in INEC’s checklist on the election observation guidelines which was reviewed and adopted by participants at a one-day workshop for the CSOs on gender responsive reporting methodology and standards in Abuja yesterday.
The electoral body said it had incorporated a gender perspective in the observer mission’s principles to assess compliance with the obligation made by Nigeria in both national and international commitments to promote the political participation of women.
INEC’s national commissioner, Dame Gladys Nne Nwafor in her remarks said it was the first time election observers were being trained by the commission on gender dimension in election observance.
She said previous election observation reports lacked information and recommendations reflecting critical gender issues in the conduct of elections.
Minister of Women Affairs, Zainab Maina, who was represented by a deputy director in the ministry, Mrs Jummai Muhammad, said the workshop was timely as it aimed at underscoring the electoral rights of women by eliminating impartiality and inequality in the process.