By NewsBits
A civil society organisation, Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room, (NCSR), weekend trained 51 election observers in Enugu State ahead of the 2023 general elections that will commence on February 25 with the Presidential as well as the National Assembly elections.
The participants of the Situation Room step down training which took place at Hotel Cordial, New Haven, Enugu on Saturday, were drawn three persons each from the 17 local government areas of the State.
Speaking on the overview of election observation and code of conduct for election observers, the Facilitator, Emmanuel Acha, said that the election observers are to observe and report their findings to the Situation Room but not to interfere or intervene in the electoral process.
Acha also said that the observers, being independent observers, should confine themselves to observing the electoral process with a view to making accurate reportage instead of interfering with the process.
“An observer is not to interfere or intervene in the electoral process but to report their observation to the SituationRoom,” he said.
According to him, the observers should conduct themselves in a civil manner and that on no account should they show bias but maintain strict neutrality and impartiality.
Acha said: “maintain strict impartiality in the conduct of your duties and at no time to publicly express or exhibit any bias or preference in relation to national authorities, parties, candidates or with reference to any issue in contention in the election process.
“Undertake your duties in an unobstrusive manner and not knowingly or willfully interfere in the electoral process. Though observers can draw attention of the election officers to any irregularity, however, you must not give instructions or countermand to the election officers,” he said.
He, however, said that the election observers should base their conclusions on their personal observation on clear convincing facts. “Conclusions should not be based on or drawn from speculations, hearsay or exclusively from media or internet-based report that the observers have not personally verified.”
He further said that the observers should be wary of their conduct in order not to be in conflict with the election officers, candidates or party agents, adding that observers must not accept any gift or favours that might influence their work.
He explained that the observers from the Situation Room would be given accreditation just like other observers from other organisations that would monitor the election process. He counseled that observers as non-participants should not announce election results
