In the run up to the 2019 general election, the European
Union (EU) Group has expressed its plan to assess the conduct of the media by
monitoring key television and radio stations, newspapers as well as social
media, even as it deploys 40 observers to monitor the Nigerian polls.
The observer group also said it would observe the opening of
the polling units, the voting process, the counting of votes, tabulation of
results, any election complaints and appeals that arise before, during or after
elections and will issue a preliminary statement giving their assessment of the
electoral process up until that point.
The EU Chief Observer, Maria Arena, while addressing
journalists in Abuja on Tuesday, revealed that a team of 11 election experts
are in Abuja, adding that 40 experienced long-term observers had been deployed
in pairs around the country on Monday to cover all states.
In addition, she said over the two election days, a
delegation of seven members of European Parliament will also join the mission,
as well as diplomatic staff from EU member state embassies in Nigeria, Canada,
Norway and Switzerland.
The 2019 general election are scheduled for February 16 and
March 2.
According to Arena, "I can't say how large the mission
will eventually be at this stage, but we are expecting it to be made up of more
than 70 observers. We will be observing both election days and the
post-election period."
"Our observers across the country, in all six
geo-political zones, working out of 20 different locations. They are now
starting to meet with election officials, candidates, parties, security
agencies, media and religious leaders," she said.
The Chief Observer urged all the institutions involved the
elections to be transparent and accountable in other to get public confidence
and trust.
She said: "We hope that INEC and also the security
forces will provide clear real-time information on what they are doing and
actions they have taken. INEC and the security forces need to be seen to work
neutrally in all their actions from the leadership down.
"I hope that state bodies and political parties all
play their part in promoting a fair and peaceful process before, during and
after election day. This means working with integrity for the sake of the
nation and promoting a calm response to any problems or frustrations.”
The elections, she said, provide an opportunity for Nigeria
to build on what was achieved in 2015 and to further strengthen the country's
democracy.
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