From Okwe Obi, Abuja
The New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), has told the United Nations to help strengthen Nigeria’s democracy.
Acting National Vice Chairman of NNPP, Nwaeze Onu, made the appeal when he received a delegation of the UN Office of Internal Oversight Services Secretariat, led by Yuen Ching Ho, on a courtesy visit to Nigeria.
Onu said: “The evaluation and observation of the democratic process is a very serious issue that requires every serious political party to listen and suggest ways of deepening our democracy.
“Our democracy has shifted from being nascent to full-fledged democracy and sharing ideas from experiences United Nations agencies like yours have gathered from other developed countries will help developing nations like Nigeria to deepen our democracy.”
He noted that the country’s democracy has advanced from being nascent to full-fledged democracy and sharing ideas from experiences of the UN agencies like the Office of Internal Oversight Services gathered from other developed countries adding that it will assist developing nations like Nigeria to deepen its democracy.
While responding, leader of delegation, Yuen Ching Ho, noted that they are in the NNPP secretariat to get the party’s leadership feedback on their engagements with UN agencies during the period of the 2023 electioneering.
She said: “Our office has the responsibility of providing oversight for different UN programmes, activities and offices with the aim of serving accountability and lessons learned in the processes. So our focus is on the work and the support of UN and how well they have addressed the need of the government in countries they work in.
“So we are in Nigeria this week to meet with important stakeholders such as NNPP party to get your views on particular aspects. On how you engaged with with some of these United Nations entities on election related matters.
“What are your views or collaboration, What are some of the challenges perhaps that you faced, if you have received any support or you further seek for another support that could be strengthened? And to hear your thoughts on how perhaps this collaboration could be improved as we go down the track.”