INEC Chairman applauds EU for strengthening democracy as Ambassador departs

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has commended the European Union, EU, for its contributions to strengthening Nigeria’s democracy, as the EU Ambassador to Nigeria, Samuela Isopi, departs after a 3-year tenure.

Speaking during a farewell visit on Tuesday in Abuja, INEC, Chairman Mahmood Yakubu praised the EU’s efforts, He said, “We appreciate the European Union’s partnership in deepening Nigerian democracy. The EU has been a strong supporter of INEC, and we’re grateful for their collaboration.”

“Their support has been instrumental in enhancing the capacity of INEC to deliver credible elections, “he added.

‘In fact, very recently, the Electoral Commission in Ghana conducted an exercise for citizens who have come of age’ or those who have not registered for one reason or another in the past. In Ghana, they targeted registering 70,000 new voters nationwide. However, in Edo state alone, we registered 119,000 new voters during the last continuous voter registration exercise. Additionally, 58,000 were registered in other states, making a total of 77,003. I’m proud to say that I worked closely with you, and our last meeting was at the Hilton, where we served as co-chairs of the steering committee of the EU-SDGN.

“On behalf of the commission, I want to express our appreciation to the European Union, particularly the mission, for the partnership and collaboration in implementing the EU-supported project implemented by the DAI. We continue to have a strong partnership in supporting democracy and democratic governance in Nigeria. The National Assembly, judiciary, civil society organizations, and the media. So, we want to thank you and request that you extend our appreciation to the EU and its member states.

“We have had a good working relationship with the EU. I worked with Santiago Pisas, who was the head of the EU delegation to Nigeria during the 2015 Election Observation Mission to Nigeria in 2017. We also worked together during the midterm review in 2017 and again in 2019. Most recently, we welcomed Barry Andrews, who headed the EU election observation mission. We look forward to the next midterm review, which will be next year, and we look forward to welcoming Barry Andrews again.

“I want to assure you that we will continue to work closely with the team you are leaving behind. We will work closely with Jackie and assure your successor that the same spirit of national cooperation will continue to exist between the EU and us. We wish you well in your next mission. It’s a small world, and our paths will cross again wherever your journey takes you. So, thank you so much for making the INEC one of the agencies to visit as we bid you farewell.”

Earlier, Ambassador Isopi said,
“I’m proud of the partnership we’ve established here. We’ve gone a long way in supporting Nigerian democracy, and I remain convinced that the trajectory is the right one. Strengthening democracy in Nigeria means strengthening democracy worldwide.

She explained that “After three years in Nigeria as Ambassador of the European Union, I will be leaving the country after the end of my tenure this Friday. I couldn’t leave without paying a farewell visit to Mr. Chairman and the National Independent Electoral Commission, which is one of the European Union’s key partners here in Nigeria. It has been a privilege and an honor to serve the Nigerian people over the past three years.

‘I want to celebrate the partnership we have with the Nigerian people and INEC on strengthening and deepening Nigerian democracy. I attended a meeting with my successor where we discussed the importance of this partnership. I told them that this needs to remain one of our core tasks and priorities to support the aspirations of the Nigerian people for a deeper and stronger democracy.

“We are proud of our partnership with INEC and other stakeholders under the EU’s Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria program. I wanted to bid farewell to the commission and thank Mr. Chairman and the Commission for the good partnership and collaboration. We have had open and frank discussions, even when we disagreed, which is a sign of a strong partnership.

“Nigeria is the largest democracy in Africa and West Africa, and one of the largest in the world. We know how important it is to continue supporting Nigerians in their journey towards strengthening their democracy. We believe that democracy is the best way to respond to the aspirations of all people, and we face challenges in our own democracies.

Strengthening democracy in Nigeria means strengthening democracy worldwide. I’m proud of the model we’ve established here, and I remain convinced that the trajectory is the right one.”