Election stakeholders in the nation have urged for enhanced training for election observers to mitigate the issues of confusion, procedural errors, inadequate reporting, and non-compliance with the observers’ code of conduct that have been prevalent in the country’s elections.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

They pointed out that during the 2023 elections, many civil society groups mishandled their interactions with the Nigerian populace, resulting in a flawed narrative regarding the integrity of the electoral system.

These conclusions were reached following a two-day post-election evaluation meeting for civil society organizations (CSOs) organized by the Peering Advocacy and Advancement Centre in Africa (PAACA) in partnership with the National Orientation Agency (NOA)….CONTINUE READING

The stakeholders, in a joint statement issued at the conclusion of the meeting, stated that the primary goal of this reflective session was to conduct a comprehensive assessment and self-examination of the roles played by civil society organizations in the electoral process.

This included identifying significant observations, recognizing commendable practices, pinpointing encountered challenges, and formulating recommendations to enhance the integrity and inclusiveness of future elections within the Nigerian context.

The statement further highlighted concerns about biased media coverage and the spread of misinformation despite a substantial media presence.

It emphasized the necessity for media outlets to fulfill their responsibility by providing accurate information to the public. Additionally, the communique highlighted how both CSOs and the media contributed to citizens’ suspicions, which was identified as a fundamental issue.

Addressing the challenges faced by election observation groups, the communique noted that many CSOs lacked a specific focus during the elections, potentially undermining the principle of election observation in the country.

It emphasized that this lack of focus resulted in weak observation coverage, which, in turn, contributed to the proliferation of fake news on social media platforms and raised concerns about the manipulation of public opinion.

Among other recommendations, the stakeholders emphasized the importance of civil society organizations establishing transparent communication channels with their observers to eliminate political and external influences.

Regarding the methodology of election observation, the stakeholders underscored the need to strengthen it to ensure the integrity of the process and the accuracy of reports on the electoral process, emphasizing the significance of CSO participation in this regard.