By Harry Awurumibe, Editor Abuja Bureau
Nigeria’s electoral umpire, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Tuesday pledged to deliver the best-ever general elections in Nigeria in 2023.
This heartwarming assurance was given in Abuja by INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu when he received delegations of the International Republican Institute (IRI) and that of the National Democratic Institute (NDI) in his office.
Yakubu said the meeting with the two bodies was the first that INEC was hosting after last Saturday’s governorship election in Osun state and assured that it would improve on its successes in subsequent elections.
“We are encouraged by your kind words, but there is still a lot of work to do.
“We assure you that we will continue to work not only hard but even harder to deliver the 2023 general elections.
“I have listened to some of the issues raised but perhaps, when we go into the working session there will be an opportunity for us to respond to some of the issues,’’ he told the delegations.
Yakubu also spoke about the governorship elections held in Ekiti in June and that of Osun held on Saturday.
“As for the preparation for the 2023 general elections, I want to assure you that we promised Nigerians that Ekiti was going to be good and Ekiti was a good election.
“We promised that Osun was going to be better, Osun was a better election. We are promising that the 2023 general elections will be our best election ever and we are committed to delivering best election ever,’’ he said.
Earlier, Mr. Frank LaRose, Secretary of State for Ohio, United States of America (USA) and leader of the delegations, commended INEC on its various efforts at improving on the conduct of elections in Nigeria.
He said the meeting was the first that INEC was hosting after Saturday’s governorship election in Osun and assured that it would improve on its successes in subsequent elections.
“We are encouraged by your kind words, but there is still a lot of work to do.
“We assure you that we will continue to work not only hard but even harder to deliver the 2023 general elections.
“I have listened to some of the issues raised but perhaps, when we go into the working session there will be an opportunity for us to respond to some of the issues,’’ he told the delegations.
The INEC boss also spoke about the governorship elections held in Ekiti in June and that of Osun held on Saturday.
“As for the preparation for the 2023 general elections, I want to assure you that we promised Nigerians that Ekiti was going to be good and Ekiti was a good election.
“We promised that Osun was going to be better, Osun was a better election. We are promising that the 2023 general elections will be our best election ever and we are committed to delivering best election ever,’’ he said.
