Transition Monitoring Group Partners INEC on Credible Election in Akwa Ibom State
Transition Monitoring Group (TMG) in Akwa Ibom State has struck a partnership with the Independent National Electoral Commission in Akwa Ibom State to work for a credible election in the State.
The TMG said they will work for a credible election through adequate sensitisation on the new electoral act and monitoring of compliance with the electoral provisions during the forthcoming elections.
This was made known on Thursday, November 24, 2022 when the Executive members of Transition Monitoring Group in Akwa Ibom State paid an advocacy visit to the new Resident Electoral Commissioner, Akwa Ibom State, Cyril Omorogbe.
In his remark, the State Coordinator of TMG, Mr. Peace Edem noted that the visit was to enable them establish a cordial relationship on collaboration and partnership that seek to secure good electoral practices and standards in the administration of election in Akwa Ibom State.
He said the group is tasked with the responsibility to ensure that the election management body and the electorates carry out their responsibilities during and after election in accordance with the legal and internationally recognized standards for free, credible and fair election.
While expressing appreciation to the REC for the opportunity granted him and his team to meet with the State INEC Executives, Edem stated ” TMG is the foremost independent civil society election observation organisation in Nigeria. Established in 1998 as a non-profit organization with membership strength of over 400 committed member organisations across the country.
“Its main focus is to see how to have a better electoral process through good governance, and conduct civic and voters’ education to enlighten Nigerians at the grassroot. Our spread of committed members across the country gives us the advantage to collaborate and partner INEC in carrying out various voter’s education and sensitization across States.”
The State Coordinator explained that one of their recent activities is the ongoing sensitisation of the public on the amended electoral Act which he said many are not aware of.
” It is also our duty to engage citizens at the community level to educate them and do that in accordance with our slogan ‘Let the vote count’. We also partner with INEC at the National and State level by assisting in election observation and reporting, so the purpose of this visit is to familiarise with the commission in the State.”
In response, the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Akwa Ibom State, Cyril Omorogbe commended the group for availing themselves for the partnership.
While noting that the role of INEC is to conduct free and fair elections, the Commissioner said this responsibility is extended to the public when they ensure elections are peaceful.
He added ” Leadership starts from our mindset and our decision as a person because leadership is the ability to understand what other people fear and also use that understanding to influence others also. As a leader, you start by looking at the root cause analysis. If the foundation is strong, we can be sure of a good leader in our society.”
The INEC REC used the opportunity to harp on the need for people to collect their Permanent Voters Card stressing that there are a lot of left-over PVCs in all the INEC offices in the state.
The Commission asked that TMG and the general public should assist in creating more awareness and sensitization for people to pick UP their PVCs.