From Adanna Nnamani, Abuja
The Centre for Transparency Advocacy (CTA), an election observer group on Friday, launched its Coverage Situation Room for the 2023 general elections.
Speaking at the Situation Room’s unveiling in Abuja, CTA Executive Director, Faith Nwadishi explained that the room was created to assist the organization in tracking down field reports from observers and generally establishing common trends toward gauging the level of compliance with the minimum international standard for credible elections.
“The CTA is deploying a total of 2,000 observers across Nigeria. To support our field observers, CTA has set up its Situation Room to follow up with field reports from observers to generally establish common trends towards gauging the level of compliance with minimum international standard for credible elections. In preparing for this election, the CTA conducted stakeholders’ meetings across the six geo-political zones, held several press conferences on different issues as they arose, observed the Mock Accreditation across the states, trained observers, Sensitization of the PWDs in the FCT. These are parts of CTA’s ongoing contributions towards a successful conduct of the 2023 General Elections and the long term sustenance of democracy in Nigeria.” She said.
Nwadishi praised INEC’s efforts thus far but urged it to keep up the good work till the Nigerian people are given a free, fair, and credible election.
“The CTA calla on the security agencies who have been deployed in election duties to conduct themselves with utmost neutrality and professionalism. The CTA recognises the important role that these agencies play in the maintenance of law and order, safeguarding of election officials and materials as well as the electorates.
“In the same vein, we call on political parties and their agents to conduct themselves in accordance with the election guidelines and the rules of engagement at polling units and collation centres. All forms of malpractices including vote buying and selling should be avoided.
“Finally, we call on the electorates to remain vigilant, law abiding and peaceful in all their conduct before, during and after election.” She added.