…EU Ambassador charges commission on credible elections
From Romanus Ugwu, Abuja
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has admitted that though there has been incremental improvement in the electoral process in recent electoral cycles, a lot of work still lies ahead.
Chairman of the commission, Mahmood Yakubu, made the confession during the maiden visit of the new European Union Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Milgnot in Abuja, yesterday.
He, however, assured that the commission was working hard to improve on other aspects of electoral operations, correcting the erroneous impression that the commission is receiving direct funding or has an account into which donor funds are warehoused.
“There has been incremental improvement in our electoral process over the last six electoral cycles. However, we also appreciate that a lot of work lies ahead.
“We have similarly commenced the implementation of aspects of the recommendations that only require administrative action by the commission.
“For instance, in some of the off-cycle, re-run and bye-elections conducted since the general election, there has been improvement in the quality of training of ad hoc staff involving the deployment of more BVAS machines for this purpose.
“There has also been tremendous improvement in the functionality of the BVAS in voter accreditation using fingerprint or facial authentication. Furthermore, election results are more speedily uploaded to the IReV. Voter registration in Edo and Ondo States ahead of the governorship elections was better coordinated and collection of PVCs almost seamless with 80 per cent of the cards collected by eligible voters.
“The perennial problem of logistics was also vigorously addressed in the recent Ondo State governorship election. We are working hard to improve other aspects of electoral operations. The arrival of your mid-term mission later this year will provide an opportunity for a full review of the 2023 EU-EOM report.”
He dismissed speculations that INEC received direct funding and grants from foreign donors.
“I would like to seize this opportunity to clarify a matter over which there is some misunderstanding in certain quarters. For the record, the commission does not receive direct funding and we do not have an account into which donor funds are warehoused.
“The EU and other development partners provide indirect support in areas such as the publication of reports, retreats, engagement with stakeholders, as well as consultancy and technical support services in various areas, through the implementing partners selected and appointed by them.
“Their support does not involve any direct funding of core electoral activities of the Commission such as voter registration, production of PVCs, training and remuneration of ad hoc staff, electoral logistics, and the procurement of sensitive materials, including election technology. These activities remain the sovereign responsibility of the Federal Government of Nigeria,” he insisted.
Earlier, Amb. Mignot had warned the electoral umpire that without a credible electoral system enjoying the trust of the citizens and the stakeholders, there can’t be a good democracy.
“And of course, the electoral system, the elections, they are not the only aspect of democracy, but they are one key pillar. Without a credible electoral system enjoying the trust of the citizens and the stakeholders, there can’t be a good democracy.
“So, you’re right. is absolutely key. And in democracy, there is no perfection in life in general. And there is specificity. Each country’s democracy has its own features, including the cultural context and history of each country.
“And it’s an evolving project. It’s like a recycle. You have to advance not to fall. And I think democracy has to be in constant progress and facing challenges over time, challenges and opportunities like the eruption of the digital technologies in our lives and in our democracies also, and facing challenges like disinformation, misperceptions that we see spreading all over the world,” he said.