UN Confirms Continued Support For Nigeria’s Elections

The United Nations has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Nigeria’s democratic development, emphasizing that the country’s electoral success serves as a key benchmark for stability and progress across Africa.

This statement was made by UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mohamed Fall, during a visit to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarters in Abuja. Fall congratulated INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, on his appointment, noting that the world looks to Nigeria’s electoral processes as a model due to the nation’s demographic significance.

“Your success will be our success. Democracy in Nigeria has evolved over the past 27 years, defining the history and trajectory of the country. The United Nations family, comprising 26 agencies, stands ready to share global expertise and best practices to support you,” Fall said.

Highlighting the broader role of elections in national development, Fall emphasized the UN’s “Leave No One Behind” principle, underlining the importance of including youth, women, and persons with disabilities (PWDs) in the democratic process.

Ms. Elsie Attafuah, UN Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative, reaffirmed the organization’s long-standing partnership with INEC, dating back to 1999. She highlighted the UN’s role in supporting technological advancements, voter education, and institutional strengthening within Nigeria’s electoral system.

“UN support extends to approximately 60 elections globally each year. We are eager to leverage our expertise in human rights, gender equality, and parliamentary development to assist Nigeria. Your success strengthens democracy across Africa,” Attafuah said.

In response, INEC Chairman Prof. Amupitan commended the UN’s continued partnership and outlined key challenges facing election management in Africa, including public trust, voter apathy, and insecurity. He requested UN support in voter education, combating disinformation, and enhancing the commission’s Gender and Inclusivity Department to better serve PWDs.

Prof. Amupitan also detailed steps being taken to improve electoral integrity, including cleaning the national voters’ register to remove deceased persons and duplicates. He cited the recent FCT area council elections and upcoming off-cycle governorship elections as opportunities to test improved result transmission technology and logistics tracking, ensuring transparency and alignment with global best practices.

According to official sources, the commission remains committed to continuous improvement, with every election aimed to surpass the standards of the previous one.