2023: We Will Work With International Partners To Deliver A Credible Poll- INEC

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Professor Mahmood Yakubu noted that the commission will continue to work with a consortium of partners who are committed to the implementation of the Commission’s activities most especially in the areas to deepen democracy saying the efforts of EU-SDGN have been in a way to pass a vote of confidence on the Commission.

Yakubu made this known in a remark as part of the Commission’s goodwill message on the occasion of the closure of Phase 1 and the Launch of Phase 11 of the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria, EU-SDGN held at the International Conference in Abuja explaining that the Commission will continue to welcome the deployment of international observers for a free, fair and credible poll

He said: ” I wish to reassure you that the Commission will work together with the consortium of partners to implement the support to the INEC component of the EU-SDGN II. We will also continue to create the enabling environment to facilitate the work of the partners for the successful implementation of the programme.

“The choice of the partners signifies a vote of confidence in their capacity to undertake actions and implement activities that are critical to promoting the institutionalisation of democratic norms in our country. We will work with the implementing partners for free, fair, credible and inclusive elections.

” I wish to reiterate here that the core costs of our electoral activities, including the acquisition of sensitive and non-sensitive materials for all elections, remain the sovereign responsibility of the Federal Government of Nigeria.

“Nevertheless, the Commission appreciates the support of international development partners to enhance training and capacity building of officials; stakeholder engagement for peaceful election; production and dissemination of messages for voter education and sensitisation; enhancing the active and meaningful participation of all segments of society in the electoral process with particular reference to women and youths”, he added.