The Chairman Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Professor Mahmood Yakubu has assured the United Nations of INEC continous mandate to do what is right on the basis of the law to have a free and fair elections in 2023.
Professor Yakubu gave this assurance on Monday when the Special Representative of the Secretary General of the United Nations and Head of the UN Office for West Africa/Sahel UNOWAS and his team paid him a courtesy visit at Independence National Electoral Commission Headquarters (INEC) in Abuja.
Special Representative of the Secretary General of the United Nations (SRSG) and Head of the UN Office for West Africa and the Sahel, Mr. Mahamat Saleh Annadif who is on working visit in Nigeria arrived with other members of the U.N delegates to discuss salient issues bordering on security, and pre-2023 elections. Nigerians will determine who they want in the 2023 general election and we will continue to uphold the choice made by Nigerians. “So I want to assure you that we will leave no stone unturned in ensuring that our election continue to get better and better and the democratic environment is increasingly consolidated. We look forward to seeing you again before and during the election.”
INEC Chairman commended UNOWAS for being supportive of INEC during the conduct of elections in Nigeria also assured that INEC will not leave no stone unturn in ensuring that the elections continue to get better and better on the democratic environment increasingly consolidated.
He noted that about 84 million Nigerians have registered so far but Nigeria is one out of 15 countries in the sub region, noting that the total number of registered voters in the other 14 countries put together is 73 million, meaning that Nigeria has 11 million more registered voters than the other countries in the sub region put together.
Professor Mahmood Yakubu promised the U.N Representative to also work closely with the international community, political parties, with civil society organisations, with media, with the security agencies in the country, noting that thenprewence of UN Representatives brings encouragement and INEC will continue to do what needed to done for the peace and stability of the sub region.
On his part, the Special Representative of the Secretary General of the United Nations (SRSG) and Head of the UN Office for West Africa and the Sahel, Mr. Mahamat Saleh Annadif thanked INEC Chairman and
Mr. Mahamat Saleh Annadif in his remarks said the purpose of his visit is to discuss the success of the 2023 Elections.
"For us, the peace and stability and security hovering the West Africa region depends on Nigeria. As Nigeria has always been a good example and we are happy that the candidates are already selected, the U.N will always provide support to Nigeria so that the election will take place peacefully.
"So we congratulate INEC and we will support you again for the work being done and the work will be done in terms of preparing this elections, we will be always supportive", he said.
Dignitries at the event were the INEC National commissioners, the Secretary to the Commission, Directors and other Senior staff of INEC members and members of the Press Corps were in attendance.
Other Delegates are Mr. Matthias Schmale, Resident Coordinator of the UN System in Nigeria, Mr. William Lifongo, Sr. Political and Human Rights Affairs Officer, Mr James Aji - Head of Liason Office, Mr. Kouider Zerrouk, Chief of the Strategic Communication, Publication and Information Office, and Miss. Falmata Liman, Political Affairs Officer.
Others are; Mr. Franklin Ngochi, Special Assistant to the SRSG, Miss. Kimairis Toogood, Peace and Development Advisor, Office of the UN Resident Coordinator, and Fred Eni - Admin to Resident Coordinator.