NBA Releases Guidelines For NBA-Appointed Observers For The 2023 Elections

The National Executive Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association has published a Guide for accredited NBA-INEC Observers for the 2023 general elections.

The Guide prescribes expected and acceptable conduct from the observers during the execution of their role of election monitoring. It includes a Code of Conduct, Election Day Procedures, INEC Expectations from NBA Observation, an a review of the Electoral Act.

According to a statement made available to TheNigeriaLawyer, all accredited observers are expected to identify with their Branch Chairmen for proper coordination and reporting of their observations.

Also, observers are to note that briefing of observers by INEC officials will take place on Wednesday 22nd, 2023 in each state.

Chairmen of capital state branches are expected to visit the INEC state offices (before the date for the meeting) for more information as regards, venue and time for the meeting.

The NBA Branch Chairmen in the states’ capitals are expected to collect materials for all branches in the State from the INEC office. Chairmen of other branches will collect from them (state capital branch chairmen) for all accredited observers in their respective branches.

The statement also noted that chairmen are expected to make copies of original ”observer ID cards” of all their members who will in turn acknowledge the receipt of same at point of collection. Chairmen will then send acknowledged copies of the IDs of accredited observers to the National Secretariat, Abuja. Kindly attention ‘PROGRAMS DEPARTMENT.”

The NBA-NEC also clarified that any lawyer whose Name and Passport was not forwarded to the NBA National Secretariat for accreditation, is not an observer for  the 2023 general elections.