…compares the conduct of elections in Nigeria to that of all of W’Africa.
…APC will win the presidential election, Adamu says To visiting UN officials
The United Nations Office for West Africa (UNOWAS) and the Sahel received yesterday’s assurance from Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), that the general elections in 2023 will be free and fair.
He added that holding elections in Nigeria was difficult, comparing it to holding polls in all of West Africa.
The INEC Chairman stated that “Nigerians will choose who they want in the 2023 general election and we will continue to uphold the choice made by Nigerians” to Mahmat Saleh Annadif, a special representative of UNOWAS, who visited INEC.
“Therefore, I want to guarantee you that we will stop at nothing to make sure that our elections keep getting better and better and that the democratic environment is solidifying. Before and during the election, we hope to see you again.
According to the INEC chairman, every general election held in Nigeria is equivalent to a general election held throughout all of West Africa.
The INEC chairman stated that “the sub-region consists of 15 countries. Nigeria is one of 15 countries in the sub-region, yet we currently have 84 million registered voters, demonstrating the significance of Nigeria to our democracy.
However, the combined total of registered voters in the other 14 nations is 73 million, therefore Nigeria has 11 million more voters than the other countries in the sub-region combined.
In addition, he added, “we recognize the huge responsibility the Commission is given. Elections are both national and international; we have excellent working relationships with our allies and strategic partners in the nation; we collaborate closely with the political parties, media outlets, and security agencies in the nation, but we also collaborate closely with our friends abroad, like UNOWAS.
Yakubu thanked the UN special representative for the trip and stated, “So whenever you come on this kind of assignment, we feel totally motivated to continue doing what we need to do for the peace and security of our sub-region.
So, I want to reassure you that we will continue to act in accordance with the law; Nigerians will make the final decision.
The UN representative stated that the sub-region placed great importance on Nigeria’s peace, stability, and security and that his team was there to observe some aspects of the general election preparations for 2023.
The UN representative continued, “We are in this country as Nigeria prepares to host elections in 2023. Nigeria is also crucial to the region’s security, peace, and stability from our perspective. Nigeria, as we always claim, is an excellent example, so we are pleased that the candidates have already been chosen.
“The United Nations would always back Nigeria in order for this election to be conducted peacefully. We commend you and pledge our continued support for the preparations you have made and will make for this election, he said.
Meanwhile, Senator Abdulahi Adamu boasted that the ruling party would win the 2023 presidential election during a separate meeting with Annadif, the APC’s national chairman.
Adamu addressed this to the Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations and Head of the UN Office for West and Sahel who was in Abuja for a courtesy visit. Adamu was in the person of Senator Abubakar Kyari, Deputy National Chairman, North.
He claimed that the recent governor’s election in Ekiti State was seen as a referendum and a vote of confidence by the ruling party.
“We seek to inform the SRSG that the APC is set to enter the country’s general elections with dedication,” stated Adamu. He pledged to abide by the law and vowed to take part in the election peacefully.
The APC, which is the ruling party and has the most registered members (43 million), has a vested interest in the calm and orderly conduct of the elections in Nigeria.
The APC views the recent gubernatorial election in Ekiti State as a referendum, a vote of confidence in the party, and a harbinger of its goals for 2023, when it hopes to form the government in the nation’s center and in the majority of the states spread across its six geopolitical zones.
The ruling party reaffirmed its dedication to the principles of democratic administration and the upholding of the rule of law in all of its endeavors, adding that, the next national administration will be formed in 2023, and “it shall continue to apply them diligently while campaigning for votes.”
The eight-person delegation’s leader, Annadif, had earlier stated that the UN hoped to see free and fair elections in 2023.
He stated, “We visited with Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials this morning, and we want to meet with all the important players in Nigeria with a very straightforward message. We would like to see the upcoming elections run smoothly and be supported by all Nigerians.
“You have a very significant role to play now that the APC is in power. We want to stress that the UN is behind you and helping you.
“I like to remark that when Nigeria sneezes, the whole area becomes sick. We therefore want Nigeria to remain prosperous and serve as a model for other nations, and for this reason we anticipate the APC will support free and fair elections.
