The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has berated political parties participating in the upcoming 2019 general elections for failing to submit the full list and details of their polling agents, who are expected to monitor the voting process at the various voting centres.
In a statement issued by Festus Okoye, INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, on Saturday, all political parties taking part in next week Saturday’s elections must submit the names of their agents by Monday or face being rejected for accreditation by the electoral commission.
The directive was issued after the national leadership of INEC met with all its Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) on Friday to review preparations ahead of the presidential and National Assembly elections as well as the governorship and state legislative elections, scheduled for February 16, and March 2, respectively.
Section 45 (1) of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) states that “Each political party may by notice in writing addressed to the electoral officer of the local government area or area council appoint a polling agent for each polling unit and collation centre in the local government area or area council for which it has a candidate and the notice which sets out the name and address of the polling agent shall be accompanied by two passport photographs of each polling agent and sample signature of the polling agent and be given to the Electoral Officer at least 14 days before the date fixed for the election.”
The electoral umpire noted that despite February 1, being the initial deadline for the initial deadline for the submission of polling agents, a large number of politicians parties are yet to comply with the directive a week to the start of the general elections.
The electoral commission also lamented that some of the parties who have submitted their agents’ list undertook the process incoherently as they failed to supply the photographs and specimen signatures of their agents.
INEC asked the affected political parties to immediately visit its office to regularise all necessary details or also see such agents denied accreditation for the elections.
The statement partly read: “Most of the lists submitted are not accompanied by the photographs and specimen signatures of the poll/party agents as required by law.
“The Commission has decided as follows: All political parties that submitted incomplete applications without the specimen signatures and photographs of the poll/party agents are strongly requested to regularize this on or before close of work on Monday the February 11.”
INEC also reiterated to political parties that the submission of the list and required details of polling agents expected to participate in the governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections is February 16.
The statement warned that any agent not fully accredited by INEC would be allowed to represent any political party at the polling centres on the various election days.
“All political parties are reminded that February 16, is the last day for the submission of the names, photographs and specimen signatures of poll/party agents for the Governorship, State Assembly and Area Council elections.
“Any list of poll/party agents that is not accompanied by specimen signatures and photographs of poll/party agents will be rejected.
“It is unlawful for political parties to deploy poll/party agents whose names have not been forwarded to the Commission and duly accredited in accordance with the law.
“The security agents have been so informed and no recognition, right or privilege will be accorded to anyone not accredited by the Commission,” the statement read.
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