The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Catriona Laing, says that the Government of the United Kingdom is supporting Nigeria to ensure credible elections in 2023.
Laing, who disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Abuja, said the UK would monitor the elections closely.
She expressed the UK government’s optimism that Nigeria would deliver free and fair elections in 2023 once the amended Electoral Act was implemented.
According to her, the UK government had been supporting the electoral process in Nigeria by ensuring that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) got the processes right and working with Civil Society Organisations to carry out advocacy.
“What I have just said now – the advocacy – is showing Nigerians that we care about their democracy and we are watching it.
“In a practical way, for many elections, we have been supporting INEC – your electoral body – to ensure it has got the necessary systems and processes in place. And in each election, we have seen INEC improve its processes.
“We were the partners who supported the passing of the Electoral Act. It was a project that we funded through legal advisors to help you actually write that Electoral Act and look at best practice globally. And it has been absolutely instrumental. So, with the passing of that, then the possibility for electronic transmission of votes, the young people feel much more confident that their votes will count.
“We provided that support, we support civil society, the YIAGA not-too-young-to-run campaigns, alongside U.S partner; we advocate that and we have been supporting women groups in particular, to encourage young women, more women to try and stand for political offices. We are supporting voter-education, encouraging voters to understand the importance of going out to vote. So we are involved in a number of different ways”, Laing said.
The High Commissioner emphasised that the visa sanctions on electoral offenders remain a very effective mechanism for deterring people from engaging in electoral violence.
She added that the political parties are supportive of the policy.
