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The Political Adviser of the European Union in Nigeria, Osaro Odemwingie, has said that the body has expended over 100 million Euro to support Nigeria’s democracy through the Nigerian Independent Electoral Commission (INEC)
He announced this while introducing the evaluation team who visited the national chairman of the People’s Democratic Party,PDP,Prince Uche Secondus in Abuja
He explained that the evaluation team visited the chairman of the opposition party to rub minds and get the position of PDP on activities of the electoral commission and other institutions of democracy in the country.
In his remarks,Prince Uche Secondus urged the European Union (EU) to review their support and partnership programmes with Nigeria with a view to strengthening the operations of democracy in the country.
Prince Secondus who spoke while receiving the EU team of evaluators led by Prof Adele Juniad and Prof Victor Adetula in his office on Tuesday in Abuja, said that the democracy nurtured by the PDP for 16 years has been under severe stress since the last six years.
Lamenting that APC administration has destroyed democracy in the country, Prince Secondus said that the EU in evaluating their performance in Nigeria’s democratic journey, should also consider reviewing its sanction policies for governments and democratic institutions that are not playing by the rules.
He said: “If European Union has put in about 100 million Euro supporting democratic institutions in Nigeria like the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), it should ensure that they play by the rules.
He noted the reluctance of the ruling government to carry out further electoral reforms that will guarantee free, fair and transparent elections in the country.
He claimed that the PDP won the 2019 Presidential election but was denied the victory because of the blatant violation of electoral rules and the militarization of election venue.
Prince Secondus mentioned in particular the brazen electoral fraud in Osun and Kano states governorship elections, where military operatives were used to thwart the will of the people as clearly expressed at the polls.
“I urge you, EU officials to seat down with the INEC and insist that the right things are done and to also put necessary pressure for the passage and signing of amended Electoral Act,” he said.
He noted that without the passage of the electoral Act that will enable direct transmission of results from the polling unit as observed in Edo state gubernatorial election last year, 2023 might be difficult to handle.
On the security situation in the country, Secondus said that the ship of the state is sailing without any captain, adding that the commander in Chief is missing on duty and it’s free for all in governance in Nigeria today.
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