Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, has said the electoral body has never received direct funding from the European Union or any other international development partners.
Professor Yakubu made the declaration on Tuesday while receiving the new European Union Ambassador to Nigeria and the Economic Community of West African States, (ECOWAS) Gautier Mignot at the former office in Abuja.
The INEC Chairman clarified that development partners only provide support in areas of retreats, engagement with stakeholders, as well as consultancy and technical support services in various areas.
He maintained that strategic services towards seamless electoral process such as voter registration, production of PVCs, training and remuneration of ad hoc staff, electoral logistics remained the core, statutory responsibility of INEC.
He said: “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, and 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 renumeration 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.”
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He further assured his guest that his Commission remain committed to sustaining regular consultative engagements with stakeholders which include, political parties, civil society organisations and security agencies.
He disclosed that towards promoting the credibility of the electoral process, INEC has opened discussion with the National Assembly “to facilitate the necessary review of the electoral legal framework ahead of the next General Election.
“Furthermore, the Commission has already commenced work on the review of our planning tools such as the Strategic Plan and the Election Project Plan for future elections. Series of meetings have already taken place over the last couple of weeks involving our staff across the States of the Federation.”
Ambassador Mignot commended Nigeria’s progress in democratic governance, describing the country’s democracy as vibrant and a key pillar of stability in the region.
He said:” Without a credible electoral system that enjoys the trust of citizens and stakeholders, there can be no good democracy.”
The EU Ambassador assured INEC that the organization would maintain its neutrality in Nigeria’s democratic process as he noted that partnership with INEC and Nigeria would defer to its sovereignty.
“This cooperation is based on respect for each other’s sovereignty. We are not here to teach lessons or to dictate what you have to do, just to bring some of our experience, learn from you, and bring some expertise.
“And this is what we try to do, always give the best quality to the expertise we can find in the European Union.
“And of course, another very important principle is political neutrality. We are not here to favour one political force or one party.
“And we are not here to meddle in the internal political life of Nigeria. So political neutrality is always also at the core of our communication.
“We are in the middle of a project of support to democracy and governance in Nigeria with the 19 billion euros and more cooperation we need, I think.
“But it’s not all about money. We also have regular colleagues, along with other members of the diplomatic community, going to follow the development of elections at the federal or state level.”
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