EU-SDGN, DAI Move To Assist INEC Improve Electoral Outcomes

As the Independent National Electoral Commission takes stock of the successes and challenges of the 2023 general election, the European Union Support for Democratic Gover­nance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN) through the Development Al­ternatives Incorporated (DAI) has presented Innovation Technology Tools to assist the commission in various areas of capacity building for im­proved electoral outcomes in future elections.

INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu made the disclosure on Thursday when the team led by the Acting Head of Development Cooperation of the European Union Delega­tion Mr. Ruben Alba Aguilera and team drivers met at the technical session in Abuja .

The EU has been pivotal in helping Nigeria improve its electoral system to conform with global best practices.

Executive through DAI, the INEC Chairman said that the internal partners have provid­ed support towards capacity building, technical support, printing of non-sensitive re­ports and information flyers in the current electoral cycle.

Among the tools developed in collaboration with DAI and handed over to the Commis­sion include

*The Collation and Return­ing Officers Management System (CROMS) intended to streamline, simplify and en­hance the security, reliability and credibility of the recruit­ment process for collation and returning officers

“*The Election Results Management System (ERMS) which seeks to ensure a better results management process, enhancing accuracy and cre­ating a repository of election results, something envisaged by Section 62 (1) and (2) of the Electoral Act, 2022;

“*the Media Monitoring and Analysis Tool intended to enhance the Commission’s ca­pacity to filter media coverage of the Commission; and

And the ” Political Parties Financial Reporting and Audit System (PFRAS) seeks to assist the Commission to monitor political party finance more efficiently and effectively.”

Prof Yakubu disclosed that DAI consultants worked in consultation with the Techni­cal Team and Directing Staff of the Commission to develop the present tools .

According to him, the tool seeks to respond to specific challenges encountered in the implementation of electoral ac­tivities, thereby bringing tech­nology to enhance the Commis­sion’s operational effectiveness.

“The tools therefore offer innovative solutions that could foster efficiency, speed, due dili­gence, and trust in the electoral process” he said.

He said the tools developed under EU-SDGN phase 2 in­clude support for the judiciary and National Assembly, politi­cal parties, Media and civil soci­ety organizations, and inclusiv­ity (women,youths and persons with disabilities) traversing two electoral cycles 2023-2027.

“The Commission will close­ly examine these tools with a view of adopting or tweaking them where necessary to meet the immediate and emergent challenges in the conduct of elections” he assured.

While extending his appre­ciation to the partners for the technical support, he restated that the Commission is open to future collaboration with the EU through its implementing partners.

” I must also continue to emphasise that core electoral activities are still funded by the Federal Government of Nige­ria as a sovereign responsibil­ity. It is only funding from the Government that is received and administered directly by the Commission”, he stressed.

Recall that the EU roundly condemned the conduct of the 2023 general election, a report that INEC and government trashed.