NDI committed to electoral credibility in Nigeria

Sarah Cooper, the Senior Programme Officer of the National Democratic Institute, says the institute is committed to the use of technology to improving electoral credibility in Nigeria.
Cooper said this known on Tuesday in Akure at the resumed training of the election observers in 18 local government areas of the state.
She said the observers were recruited by the Youth Initiative for Advancement Growth and Advocacy for the Ondo State governorship election.
According to her, election integrity is imperative in any democratic system, hence, its quest in partnering with YIAGA to engage election observers in the Nov. 26 election.
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 that should not fail.
She said that the NDI in partnership with YIAGA was determined to create a better future for election monitoring in the country.
Also, Cynthia Mbamalu, the Project Director of YIAGA, called on the participants to be non-partisan and honest in discharging their duty and giving detailed reports on the election.
She said that YIAGA planned to deliver a 100 per cent credible election observation, adding that there would be no room for any complaint that could jeopardise their findings during the election.
Mbamalu reiterated YIAGA’s commitment to impartiality and urged observers to send their objective findings from the field.
She said that deploying technology and data driven election would enhance the credibility of electoral
process, adding that for any democracy to succeed there was need to have a credible and transparent process.
Mbamalu said: “We want to see a credible process; our information from the field where we observe elections is what will enhance our electoral reform in partnership with INEC.”
She noted that the election would be observed using the Parallel Vote Tabulation, a quick count method based on statistical observation of the election.
YIAGA with its Watching The Vote Project will be observing the election through a Parallel Vote Tabulation, a citizen- led election observation initiative, using data and technology to enhance integrity of elections.