ABUJA – Head of European Union Mission in Nigeria, Micheal Arrion, has expressed the union’s commitment to helping Nigeria to strengthen its electoral process and deepen democracy in the country.
Arrion stated this during his visit to Director-General, Voice of Nigeria (VON), Mr Sam Worlu, yesterday in Abuja.
According to him, EU is determined to ensure continuous improvement in Nigeria’s electoral system.
“ We are certainly committed to continue working with INEC and Nigeria to improve the electoral administration and the technical issues with the Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).
“On the card reader, there are few problems that must be fixed,’’ he said.
Arrion said that EU also had minor role to play in the conduct of primary elections by political parties.
He expressed the union’s disappointment on the failure of Nigerians to elect a woman in the governorship elections.
“ We are disappointed that no woman was elected as governor and certainly this is something that political parties can work on.
“ We cannot do that for them but we can try to convince them by advocating in favour of the women and other groups of people who deserve attention’’, he said.
The EU chief said that the union would partner INEC to ensure continuous voter education.
“ Voter and civic education are part of the global improvement of the education of the people.
“I also think that Nigerians must be educated in this field of citizenship and the important role elections plays in the democratic process”, he said.
Responding, the VON boss, Worlu, said that his organisation’s signals were targeted at foreign radio audience.
“We were set up as the foreign arm of the Federal Radio Corporation (FRCN) and we became autonomous in 1991.
“ Largely, we are broadcasting to Nigerians in Diaspora and to the black people across the world’’, he said.
Worlu solicited continuous working relationship between EU and VON in creating awareness on voter education.
jega attahiru
