CIVIL EMPOWERMENT GROUP PROTESTS AGAINST INEC BIAS

7^th February 2019.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner,

INEC

Benin City,

Edo State.

Dear Mr Commissioner Sir,


We write with reference to our letters dated August 7 and December 9 2019 wherein CERLSI wrote to INEC offices in Benin City & Abuja seeking to be included among organisations that will participate in key aspects of the February 2019 general elections, specifically in the areas of voter education, sensitization and enlightenment.

Board & Management of the Civil Empowerment & Rule of Law Support Initiative, CERLSI, observed however, that in spite of our record of accomplishment in the highlighted areas above, and with less than a week to the elections proper our organisation was not contacted, and has not received any correspondence informing us of your approval or rejection of our request.

We are aware that other organisations like ours have already commenced the voter enlightenment and education process leaving us with the assumption that we have been sidelined and excluded from participating in an area of the February 2019 elections wherein we have some record.

With offices in Benin City 7 Abuja, CERLSI was set up in 2014, and registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission, CAC, and with the Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering, SCUMUL, of the Economic & Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to educate Nigerians on the import of the vote, their rights and privileges under the laws of Nigeria.

We therefore strongly protest against this seeming disposition of bias against us, and request that you arrange to include CERLSI in the voter enlightenment and education aspect of the February 16 2019 elections.

Respectfully yours,

Bob MajiriOghene Etemiku

Deputy executive director.