ANAMBRA-2010: Inec Releases List of Anambra Election Observers....TMG protests Exclusion.. ....
Mobolaji ALUKO
The Transition Monitoring Group (TMG) and its partners in the Anambra election monitoring mission have protested the absence of their names in the list released last week by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the purpose of monitoring this weekendÕs governorship polls in the state. The leader of the group, Moshood Erubami said, "for TMG and its partners, the action by the Commission is rather unfortunate and amounts to a violation of the right of the group to participate in the governance process and gross discrimination against the group. It was only as a result of public pressure arising from the World Press Conference held by TMG stating categorically that it would monitor elections with or without accreditation that INEC at the dying minutes accredited TMG to monitor the 2007 elections." It said: "From all intents and purposes, we are strongly persuaded that denying TMG accreditation to monitor and provide independent reporting of the Anambra election portends a number of critical and scary scenarios. INEC should reverse its decision to exclude TMG from a democratic process such as elections. TMG is a credible coalition of over 300 NGOs in Nigeria. Denying it accreditation, would amount to denying over 300 NGOs of their right to participate in the process."
INEC APPROVES LIST OF OBSERVERS FOR ANAMBRA GOVERNORSHIP ELECTION
The Independent national Electoral Commission INEC) has approved the list of civil society organizations and stakeholders that would observe the conduct of Anambra Governorship Election fixed for February 6, 2010.
The approved organizations are as per the attached list.Organizations, groups or individuals not accredited should, under no circumstances be involved in the election observation process, the Commission has warned.
The approved organizations are by this release therefore, requested to forward to the Commission, names and telephone numbers of their representatives/observers for accreditation on or before Monday, February 1, 2010.
Umenger. I. Emmanuel,
Director, Public Affairs,
INEC Headquarters, Maitama,
Abuja
LIST OF CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANISATIONS, STAKEHOLDERS, ETC, ACCREDITED TO OBSERVE THE GUBERNATORIAL ELECTION IN ANAMBRA STATE ON 6TH FEBRUARY, 2010
| S/NO | NAME OF ORGANISATION |
| 1. | CENTRE FOR THE SUSTENANCE OF CIVIL RULE IN NIGERIA (CSCRA) |
| 2. | JUSTICE AND EQUITY ORGANISATION (JEO) |
| 3. | ASSOCIATION OF FORMER COUNCILORS AND WARD LEADERS IN NIGERIA |
| 4. | GLOBAL INITIATIVE FOR AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT |
| 5. | CENTRE FOR STRATEGIC CONFLICT MANAGEMENT |
| 6. | CENTRE FOR PEACEBUILDING AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC RESOURCES DEVT.(CePSERD) |
| 7. | TRANSPARENCY MOVEMENT |
| 8. | HUMAN RIGHTS MONITOR |
| 9. | GLOBAL AGENDA FOR TOTAL EMANCIPATION (GATE) |
| 10. | INITIATIVE FOR PEACE, EQUALITY & SOCIAL JUSTICE |
| 11. | GLOBAL ASSOCIATION OF FEMALE ATTORNEYS GENDER NEXUS (GAFA) |
| 12. | WEST AFRICAN ASSOCIATION OF POLITICAL PARTIES (WAAP) |
| 13. | INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATION FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT |
| 14 | (WANEO) WEST AFRICAN NETWORK OF ELECTION OBSERVERS |
| 15 | WOMEN FOUNDATION OF NIGERIA(WFN) |
| 16. | TROPICAL WATCH |
| 17. | HELP LINE ORGANISATION |
| 18 | INGO THIRD SECTOR RESOURCE |
| 19. | UNIVERSAL DEFENDERS OF DEMOCRACY |
| 20. | LEAGUE OF ANAMBRA PROFESSIONAL S(LAP) |
| 21. | RIGHTS MONITORING GROUP |
| 22. | HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES COMMITTEE ON ELECTORAL MATTERS |
| 23. | ISLAMIC DEVELOPMENT CENTRE |
| 24. | SENATE COMMITTEE ON INEC |
| 25. | US EMBASSY WITH 7 OBSERVERS |
| 26. | NIGERIAN BAR ASSOCIATION |
| 27. | THE CATHOLIC SECRETARIATE OF NIGERIA |
| 28. | NORTHERN PATRIOTIC FRONT |
| 29. | ZEEKARATU |
| 30. | CENTRE FOR INTERVENTION |
| 31. | GLOBAL EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION |
| 32. | LABOUR, HEALTH AND HUMAN RIGHTS DEVELOPMENT CENTRE |
| 33. | NIGERIA LABOUR CONGRESS (ANAMBRA STATE COUNCIL) |