October 15, 2026.
The Kogi State Independent Electoral Commission (KOSIEC) has charged election observers within the state to stay skilled, neutral and centered on the electoral course of as they put together to watch the October 17, 2026 Local Government Elections.
The Chairman of the Commission, Hon. Mamman Nda Eri, gave the cost on Thursday, October 15, 2026, throughout a gathering with election observers on the Commission’s headquarters in Lokoja, the place he offered closing tips for efficient election commentary.
Eri cautioned the observers towards interfering within the electoral course of or making untimely pronouncements on election outcomes. He stated they might take images and doc occasions as proof however ought to keep away from statements able to spreading rumours or creating pointless pressure.
He emphasised that the duty of observers was to watch the conduct of the election and supply goal studies that will assist the Commission enhance future electoral processes.
“Observers are responsible to KOSIEC and should be more interested in the process rather than the results,” the Chairman said.
He urged the observers to organize complete checklists protecting their private info, the main points of their organisations and related details about the polling items they might observe. He harassed the significance of understanding their tasks earlier than arriving at their assigned places.
On the closing time for voting, Eri defined that voters already on the queue at 3:00 p.m. must be allowed to vote. He additionally warned that vote shopping for was an electoral offence and urged observers to doc all irregularities of their studies reasonably than have interaction in arguments or disputes at polling items.
The KOSIEC Chairman additional defined that election outcomes can be declared on the polling items, wards and native authorities ranges earlier than being forwarded to the Commission.
He assured the observers that the Commission wouldn’t intrude with outcomes from the sphere however would formally declare the leads to accordance with the established electoral course of.
Speaking, the Chairman of the Forum of Election Observers in Nigeria, Kogi State Chapter, Comrade Idris Miliki, urged members to familiarise themselves with the Electoral Act in addition to the related codes of conduct guiding election commentary.
Miliki suggested observers to reach at their assigned polling items early to doc the graduation of electoral actions and stay security-conscious all through the train.
He additionally urged them to make sure that their studies recognized challenges encountered at polling items and provided sensible suggestions for addressing them, cautioning towards making untimely judgments whereas on the sphere.
“It is those that are alive that can write reports,” he stated, stressing the necessity for observers to prioritise their private security all through the train.
Miliki additional urged KOSIEC to make sure that election supplies arrived at designated distribution centres by 8:00 a.m. on election day to facilitate a clean electoral course of.
He additionally known as on observers to finish and submit their studies by Monday following the election.
The assembly featured questions and solutions, throughout which members raised issues and provided ideas geared toward strengthening the electoral course of and guaranteeing efficient commentary of the forthcoming native authorities elections.
Modupe Adegboro,
Information Officer, KOSIEC.
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