Nigeria’s electoral commission, INEC, has highlighted recent improvements in the country’s electoral process to the European Union. INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, met with the new EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot, in Abuja on Tuesday.
Professor Yakubu noted that the EU’s partnership with INEC has helped consolidate Nigeria’s electoral and democratic process since 1999. He also mentioned that INEC has received reports from 206 national and foreign groups that observed the 2023 General Election, including the EU Election Observation Mission, which made 23 recommendations.
INEC has implemented some of these recommendations, including improving the training of ad hoc staff, enhancing the functionality of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), and speeding up the upload of election results. Professor Yakubu also welcomed the EU’s continued support and cooperation, particularly in the areas of electoral reform and democratic governance.
Ambassador Gautier Mignot emphasized the importance of credible electoral systems in democratic societies. He noted that the EU values its long-standing cooperation with Nigeria and is committed to supporting the country’s democratic development. Mignot also highlighted the need for cooperation and exchanges between democracies to address common challenges, such as disinformation and misperceptions.
The EU has provided significant support to Nigeria’s electoral process, including a €19 million project to support democratic governance. The EU has also deployed electoral observation missions to Nigeria, including during the 2023 General Election.
Add Comment