October 15, 2026.
The Kogi State Unbiased Electoral Fee (KOSIEC) has charged election observers within the state to stay skilled, independent and targeted at the electoral procedure as they get ready to observe the October 17, 2026 Native Executive Elections.
The Chairman of the Fee, Hon. Mamman Nda Eri, gave the rate on Thursday, October 15, 2026, right through a gathering with election observers on the Fee’s headquarters in Lokoja, the place he equipped ultimate tips for efficient election commentary.
Eri cautioned the observers towards interfering within the electoral procedure or making untimely pronouncements on election effects. He stated they might take pictures and report occasions as proof however will have to steer clear of statements in a position to spreading rumours or growing pointless pressure.
He emphasized that the accountability of observers used to be to observe the habits of the election and supply goal experiences that may lend a hand the Fee support long term electoral processes.
“Observers are accountable to KOSIEC and will have to be extra within the procedure reasonably than the consequences,” the Chairman mentioned.
He advised the observers to organize complete checklists overlaying their non-public data, the main points in their organisations and related details about the polling gadgets they’d apply. He wired the significance of figuring out their obligations sooner than arriving at their assigned places.
At the last time for balloting, Eri defined that electorate already at the queue at 3:00 p.m. will have to be allowed to vote. He additionally warned that vote purchasing used to be an electoral offence and advised observers to report all irregularities of their experiences reasonably than interact in arguments or disputes at polling gadgets.
The KOSIEC Chairman additional defined that election effects can be declared on the polling gadgets, wards and native executive ranges sooner than being forwarded to the Fee.
He confident the observers that the Fee would now not intervene with effects from the sector however would officially claim the leads to accordance with the established electoral procedure.
Talking, the Chairman of the Discussion board of Election Observers in Nigeria, Kogi State Bankruptcy, Comrade Idris Miliki, advised members to familiarise themselves with the Electoral Act in addition to the related codes of habits guiding election commentary.
Miliki recommended observers to reach at their assigned polling gadgets early to report the graduation of electoral actions and stay security-conscious all over the workout.
He additionally advised them to make sure that their experiences recognized demanding situations encountered at polling gadgets and introduced sensible suggestions for addressing them, cautioning towards making untimely judgments whilst at the box.
“It’s the ones which can be alive that may write experiences,” he stated, stressing the will for observers to prioritise their non-public protection all over the workout.
Miliki additional advised KOSIEC to make sure that election fabrics arrived at designated distribution centres by means of 8:00 a.m. on election day to facilitate a clean electoral procedure.
He also known as on observers to finish and put up their experiences by means of Monday following the election.
The assembly featured questions and solutions, right through which members raised considerations and introduced tips aimed toward strengthening the electoral procedure and making sure efficient commentary of the coming near near native executive elections.
Modupe Adegboro,
Knowledge Officer, KOSIEC.