Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, has assured that the commission would continue to conduct elections that meet the yearnings and aspirations of Nigerians.
He noted that INEC was aware of its role in sustaining peace and stability in the West African sub-region.
Professor Yakubu gave the assurance, when he received the special representative of the United Nations Secretary General and Head of the UN Office for West Africa and the Sahel, Mahamat Saleh Annadif, at the INEC headquarters on Monday.
The INEC Chairman stated that “we are aware of the strategic importance of Nigeria in our sub-region, and also our responsibility in ensuring that there is electoral and democratic stability in the sub-region”.
To buttress the big brother role of Nigeria in the quest for peace and stability of the sub-region, the INEC chairman explained that “there are 15 countries in the sub region. In order to show the importance of Nigeria in the sub-region and in our democracy, as of today, we have 84 million registered voters, but Nigeria is one out of 15 countries in the sub-region, but 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, and each time Nigeria conducts a general election, it’s like a general election in the whole of West Africa, so we appreciate the enormous responsibility the Commission discharges.”, he added.
Professor Yakubu, who noted that elections were both national and international, spoke highly of the good working relationship the commission enjoyed with its strategic partners.
He further stated, “we have a very good working relationship with our strategic partners and allies in the country, we work very closely with the political parties , Civil Society Organisations, the Media, and with the Security agencies in the country”.
