EU budgets €4.4m for polls

The European Union Election Observation Mis­sion (EU EOM) to Nigeria, yesterday, re­vealed that the Europe­an Union (EU) has bud­geted €4.4million for the forthcoming elections in the country.

Speaking during a break­fast meeting with journal­ists yesterday in Abuja, EU EOM Deputy Chief Observer, Ms. Hannah Roberts, also decried the implementation of only one out of the 50 recommenda­tions the EU made in 2011.

Disclosing that its bud­get for the current election mission was €4.4 million, Roberts said the sum cov­ered security, specialists, stay of all observers, includ­ing those who would stay to observe the early stages of the election petitions and other logistics.

While reiterating the non interference of EU observ­ers in the electoral process, Roberts added that the mis­sion was already putting to­gether, information from its long term observers who had been on ground in different states.

She said the EU EOM would release a preliminary statement two days after the elections had been con­ducted.

“It is just as important, how ballots are counted as how they are cast. So, it is critical that observers are looking at not just the vot­ing, but also the counting and the collation.

“We would try and do that as much as possible, but we have some limita­tions as regards security.

“We would also be here the following day in case there is any re-polling and we would be following the collation process in the days after election.

“We would also be here for the second election for governors and Houses of Assembly. Again, our presence in polling stations would be limited because of our number, but citizen observers would be out in greater numbers,” Roberts said.

The EU EOM Deputy Chief Observer also said that using the established methodology set by the Declaration of Principles for International Elec­tion Observation, the as­sessment would consider adherence to national leg­islation and international instruments, which Nigeria is signatory to.

Roberts said the mission was also looking forward to see how the Independent National Electoral Com­mission (INEC) would deliver on its great task of ensuring free, fair and credible polls in Nigeria.