In a post-election analysis, the Independent National Electoral Commission
(INEC) has urged the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to resuscitate
the implementation of its first phase of Support to Democratic Empowerment
(SDE) in Nigeria.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, revealed this on Wednesday when he received the UNDP new Resident Representative to Nigeria, Mohammed
Yahaya, who paid a courtesy visit to the Commission in Abuja.
SDE is aimed at enlightening and mobilising
stakeholders, including the women groups, youths, traditional and religious
leaders, to participate massively in general election.
The programme is also to conduct civic and voter
education, as part of the media campaign, in order to sensitise and create
awareness among the citizens for effective participation in general election.
The INEC chairman explained that the programme
should have commenced in 2018 but was suspended due to the challenges of time
and funding.
According to Yakubu , “There is one pending issue that we need to
resuscitate immediately, which is the implementation of the Support to Democratic
Empowerment (SDE) Phase one.
“The implementation should have commenced in May
2018 through to December 2019. The plan was not fully implemented for a number
of reasons, but essentially the pressure on time on the Commission because of
general election as well as the issue of funding.
“I am glad to note that the plan is being revised
by our technical teams. I look forward to the work of the two teams. I wish to
once again reassure you that we will jointly implement the recommendations in
the current electoral circle and beyond.”
Yakubu described the UN and UNDP in particular as
long term partners in support of elections, good governance and democracy in
Nigeria.
He said INEC valued their partnership, and it would
continue to work with UNDP in promoting democracy and good governance.
Yakubu recalled that in 2017, the UN Secretary-General
sent a Need Assessment Mission to Nigeria as well as the Special Representative
for West African and the Shahel, Mohammed Chambas, who also visited before and
after the last general election.
He said: “We profoundly appreciate the support of
the union and its agencies in promoting peaceful elections and good governance
in Nigeria. We have worked closely with the UNDP in many areas since 2011.
“These include technically and advisory support for
voter registration in 2011; the formulation and validation of the commission
gender policy; the formulation, validation and revalidation of the commission's
communication policy, and support to voter education and publicity.
“Induction and retraining for new Resident
Electoral Commissioners (RECs) in Uyo in 2017; the printing of two volumes
election project plan in 2018, and many other activities to build capacity of
the commission both technical and human are parts of the areas we have worked
with our partners
“I want to reassure you of our continue willingness
to collaborate, cooperate and work in partnership with you. We will extend the
support to you that we have extended to all your predecessors.’’
The UNDP Resident Representative,
Yahaya, had pledged the organisation’s continuous support
and engagement with INEC in deepening credible elections and democracy in
Nigeria.
He said the UNDP recognised INEC as a critical
institution to deepen democracy in Nigeria.
According to him, “For UNDP globally, electoral
commissions have been a key part for the work we do-deepening democracy and
delivering the voices of those who have voted in a way that is credible and
transparent.
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