The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Mahmood Yakubu has assured the United Office for West Africa and Sahel (UNOWAS) of the commission’s unflinching commitment to credible election in Nigeria in 2023.
He said that this commitment is anchored on the belief that a free and fair general election in 2023 will promote peace in Nigeria and the entire West Africa sub-region,
The INEC boss gave the assurance when he received two separate teams of UNOWAS and West African Elders Forum Pre-Election Mediation Mission of the 2023 presidential election in Abuja on Monday.
Speaking, he told the UNOWAS team led by Ms Giovanie Biha, Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for West Africa and the Sahel that the visit is important as it would encourage all concerned to redouble efforts to achieve a credible and peaceful poll that all Nigerians and her friends will be proud of.
He said, “Your visit today is part of the long-standing relationship with UNOWAS in particular and the United Nations in general.
“Not long ago, the Secretary-General deployed the United Nations Needs Assessment Mission (NAM) to Nigeria in addition to the sustained support in the areas of voter education, capacity-building, and support to our Election Monitoring Support Centre (EMSC) through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
“For UNOWAS, we appreciate your work in the areas of preventive diplomacy, political mediation, and facilitation in West Africa and the Sahel.
“These are critical conditions for peace. The Election Management Bodies are major beneficiaries of your work. This is because elections and electoral activities cannot be successfully conducted in an atmosphere of violence.
“For this reason, INEC always appreciates the role of UNOWAS in our sub-region and the Sahel.