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.