Mohammed Shosanya
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, says Nigeria’s registered voters outnumber those of the entire West African subregion by over 10 million.
He disclosed this during a courtesy visit by the European Union (EU) Ambassador and Head of the Union’s Delegation to Nigeria and West Africa, Ambassador Samuela Isopi, at the INEC headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday.
He said,while the 14 other countries in the West African subregion have a combined total of 74 million registered voters, Nigeria alone recorded over 93 million registered voters during the 2023 general elections.
He emphasized that conducting a general election in Nigeria is comparable to organizing elections for the entire West African region and part of Central Africa.
“In fact, recently, the Electoral Commission in Ghana conducted what we refer to as Continuous Voter Registration (CVR). Their target was to register 70,000 new voters nationwide. In contrast, during our last CVR exercise, we registered 119,000 new voters in Edo State alone, and an additional 55,000 in Ondo State, bringing the total to 177,000, three times more than Ghana’s target,” Prof. Yakubu stated.
He also highlighted the robust partnership between INEC and the European Union, acknowledging the EU’s support in strengthening Nigeria’s democracy. Prof. Yakubu expressed his gratitude for the EU’s continued collaboration, particularly in implementing the EU Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN) program, and looked forward to sustaining this relationship with future EU representatives.
Speaking at the event, the outgoing European Union (EU) Ambassador to Nigeria, Samuel Isopi has reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to deepening and strengthening Nigerian democracy.
Isopi,who has served in Nigeria for three years, highlighted the critical partnership between the EU and INEC in promoting democratic governance in the country.
She expressed honor and privilege to have worked closely with INEC and the Nigerian people, noting that supporting democracy in Nigeria has been a core priority of his mission.
“It’s been a privilege and an honor to serve the Nigerian people over the past three years, and I couldn’t leave without visiting this commission.
“This partnership has been integral to our work here, and I wanted to take this opportunity to celebrate it”,she said.
Isopi emphasized the importance of continuing this partnership, particularly in light of recent democratic challenges across West Africa.
She noted that Nigeria, as the largest democracy in Africa and one of the largest in the world, plays a crucial role in setting an example for other countries in the region.
“Supporting democracy in Africa, and West Africa in particular, is more important than ever,” Isopi remarked.
“We believe that democracy remains the best way to respond to the aspirations of the people, and Nigeria’s journey towards a stronger democracy is something we are proud to support.”
Reflecting on the EU’s collaboration with INEC, Isopi described the relationship as open and constructive, even in times of disagreement. “A good partnership is defined by the ability to have different points of view, discuss them openly, and work together to overcome challenges,” she said.
“This is the kind of partnership we’ve had with INEC, and I am confident it will continue to thrive.”
As she prepares to hand over to his successor, Isopi conveyed her hopes for the future of Nigeria’s democracy.
She expressed confidence that the trajectory is positive and that continued collaboration between the EU and INEC will lead to further improvements in election administration in Nigeria.
Isopi reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to supporting Nigerian democracy, stressing that strengthening democracy in Nigeria contributes to the global effort to promote democratic governance.
She said, “Strengthening democracy in Nigeria means strengthening democracy worldwide.”
“We all face challenges, but by working together, we can ensure that democracy remains the best way to meet the aspirations of the people.”