The European Union has deployed an Election Observation Mission for the forthcoming general elections in the country.
The EU in a statement on Tuesday stated that the mission will assess the elections against national law and international principles for elections contained in regional and international law and standards.
The EU EOM would be led by Santiago Fisas Ayxela, Member of the European Parliament, from Spain, who will arrive in Abuja later this week.
It said that nine analysts of the core team had arrived in Abuja on January 6, following an advance team that was deployed during the party primaries last November and December, adding that 30 long-term observers arrived from January 12,2014.
According to the regional body, a delegation from the European Parliament and EU diplomats in Nigeria will also join the mission on election days.
“The EU EOM’s extended presence shows the EU’s commitment to the conduct of inclusive, transparent and credible elections in Nigeria. We don’t just focus on the election days, but on all aspects of the electoral process, including the arbitration of petitions long after voting is finished,” Chief Observer, Ayxela, was quoted as saying in the statement.
It explained that the EU EOM would conduct a comprehensive analysis of the entire electoral process, and this it said would include assessing the legal framework, the performance of the election administration, voter registration, candidates’ nomination and political parties primaries, campaign activities, respect for fundamental freedoms, access to and conduct of the media, voting and the counting, the announcement and acceptance of results, and complaints and appeals.
The union said the EU EOM is bound by a code of conduct which requires strict neutrality and no interference in the process, noting that the mission undertakes all its work in accordance with the Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation.
It said, “The EU EOM will publish its initial findings in Preliminary Statements, which will be presented in press conferences two days after each election day.
“A final report will later be published which will include recommendations for improvements for future elections.”
