Akure, Nov. 15, 2016 (NAN) Ms Sarah Cooper, Senior Programme Officer, National Democratic Institute (NDI), said her institute was committed to improving electoral credibility in the country through election observers’ use of technology.
Cooper said this on Tuesday in Akure at the resumed training of election observers from 18 local government areas.
The would-be observers were recruited by the Youth Initiative for Advancement Growth and Advocacy (YIAGA)to observe the forthcoming Ondo State Governorship election slated for Nov.26.
She said that election integrity is imperative in any democratic system, hence; its quest in partnering with YIAGAto engage election observers in the forthcoming governorship elections in Ondo.
She said that the NDI in partnership with YIAGA had done quite a lot to improve the credibility of the electoral process in the past, adding that it deemed it necessary to extend the gesture to Ondo State.
Cooper said that election observation embarked upon by NDI in partnership with YIAGA remained a project thatmust not fail.
“We are excited to be renewing this partnership with YIAGA and this election observation in Ondo state is a project that must not fail.’’
She said that the NDI in partnership with YIAGA were poised to create a better future for election monitoring in the country in order to improve electoral process.
Also, Cynthia Mbamalu, Project Director, YIAGA, while welcoming the would-be observers, called on them to be non-partisan and honest in the course of their duty and give detail reports as the election goes.
She said that YIAGA plan was to deliver a 100 per cent credible election observation, adding that there would be no room for any complaint that could jeopardize their funding the election.
Mbamalu reiterated the commitment of YIAGA to do an impartial observation of theelection process, while calling on observers to send their finding as seen on the field.
She said that for any democracy to succeed there was the need to have a credible and transparent process, adding that deploying technology and data driven election would enhance the credibility of electoral process.
“We want to see a credible process; our information from the field where we observe elections is what will enhance our electoral reforms in partnership with INEC.’’
She noted that the election would be observed using the Parallel Vote Tabulation (PVT), a quick-count method based on statistical observation of the election.
YIAGA with its Watching-The-Vote project will be observing the election througha Parallel Vote Tabulation (PVT), a citizen led election observation initiative using data and technology to enhance integrity of elections, she said.
(NAN)
