The president of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, said that the electoral body has never received direct funds from the European Union or any other international development partner.
Professor Yakubu made the statement on Tuesday while receiving the new European Union ambassador to Nigeria and the Economic Community of the states of Western Africa, (Ecowas) Gautier Mignot in the former Abuja office.
The INEC president clarified that development partners only provide support in withdrawal areas, commitment to interested parties, as well as consulting and technical support services in various areas.
He argued that strategic services towards an electoral process without problems, such as the registration of voters, PVC production, training and remuneration of ad hoc staff, electoral logistics remained the central and legal responsibility of INEC.
He said: “I would like to take this opportunity to clarify an issue on which there are some misunderstandings in certain sectors. For registration, the commission does not receive direct funds and we do not have an account in which donor funds are stored. The EU and other development partners provide indirect support in areas such as the publication of reports, withdrawals and commitment to interested parties, as well as consulting and technical support services in various areas, through the selected implementing partners and designated by them . Its support does not imply any direct financing of the commission's central electoral activities, such as the registration of voters, the production of PVC, the training and renumeration of ad hoc staff, electoral logistics and the acquisition of delicate materials, including electoral technology . These activities are still sovereign responsibility of the federal government of Nigeria. “
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In addition, he assured his guest that his commission remained committed to maintaining regular consultative commitments with the interested parties that include political parties, civil society organizations and security agencies.
He revealed that to promote the credibility of the electoral process, INEC has opened the discussion with the National Assembly “to facilitate the necessary review of the electoral legal framework before the next general elections.
“In addition, the Commission has already begun working on the review of our planning tools, such as the Strategic Plan and the Plan of the Electoral Project for future elections. The series of meetings have already taken place in the last two weeks that involve our staff in the states of the Federation. ”
The Ambassador Mignot praised Nigeria's progress in democratic governance, describing the country's democracy as vibrant and a key stability pillar in the region.
He said: “Without a credible electoral system that enjoys the trust of citizens and interested parties, there can be no good democracy.”
The EU ambassador assured the INEC that the organization would maintain its neutrality in Nigeria's democratic process by pointing out that the association with INEC and Nigeria would differ from its sovereignty.
“This cooperation is based on respect for the sovereignty of others. We are not here to teach lessons or to dictate what you have to do, just to bring part of our experience, learn from you and provide some experience.
“And this is what we try to do, always provide the best quality to the experience we can find in the European Union.
“And, of course, another very important principle is political neutrality. We are not here to favor a political force or a party.
“And we are not here to end up in Nigeria's internal political life. Therefore, political neutrality is always in the center of our communication.
“We are in the midst of a project to support democracy and governance in Nigeria with the 19 billion euros and more cooperation we need, I think.
“But it's not just about money. We also have regular colleagues, along with other members of the diplomatic community, will follow the development of elections at federal or state level. “