European centre trains election monitors, tasks INEC on credible elections

By Awayi  Kuje —

European  Centre for Electoral Support (ECES), has tasked the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC), to conduct free, fair and credible elections in the interest of peace and national development.Mr Rudolf Elbling, the Project Coordinator of ECES, gave the charge on Monday in Keffi, Nasarawa State, during the training of 67 election and party monitoring staff of  INEC. The training focused on campaign financing.

The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN), reports that the training had the theme: “Training of INEC EPM Staff on the Redesigned Campaign Finance Forms”.Elbling, who was represented by Dr. Isiaka Yahaya, the  centre’s Senior Electoral Administration Expert, said that the training was aimed at equipping the EPM staff with skills to effectively monitor the campaign finances of  candidates and political parties.

He said that conducting free, fair and credible elections would deepen democracy, bring peace and development to the country.

“The manner in which political parties carry out their activities, especially in the areas of campaign finance, has implications for the transparency and integrity of  the electoral system.“Excessive and improper deployment of money before, during and after elections distorts the essence of democracy as government of the people by the people and for the people,” he said .M

r Jide Ojo, Executive Director, OJA Development Consult, in a paper titled: “Introduction to Campaign Finance and the Need for Regulation of Campaign Finance in Nigeria”, charged the participants to use the knowledge gained  to effectively monitor campaign finances of political parties“Your work is to monitor the finances of candidates and political parties and file your reports accurately.

“We need to protect the nation’s  integrity by making sure that the right thing is done,” he added.In his remarks, Mr Aminu Idris, the Director, Election and Party Monitoring(EPM), INEC Headquarters, Abuja commended the centre for sponsoring the training.He advised INEC staffers to work hard toward delivering an election that would be free, fair and acceptable to Nigerians.NAN reports that the workshop brought together participants from the 19 states of the north, and the FCT. (NAN)