UK indicates interest in Kogi, Bayelsa elections

From Romanus Ugwu, Abuja

The United Kingdom has told the Independent National

Electoral Commission (INEC) that it is very much

interested in how events playing out in Kogi State’s

inconclusive governorship election finally unfold.

British High Commissioner, Mr. Paul Arkwright, who

dropped the hint when he led a delegation on a courtesy

visit to the Chairman of the electoral commission,

Professor Mahmood Yakubu, at the commission’s

headquarters in Abuja, further expressed happiness over

conduct of credible elections in Nigeria.

Charging the INEC boss to surpass the 75 per cent name

recognition of his immediate predecessor, Professor

Attahiru Jega, the UK Government equally promised to

help Nigeria in improving on visible deficiencies noticeable

in computerised electoral system in the country.

His words: “We are here to see how we can work with you

in future in alliance with your commissioners. We want to

see how we can continue our relationship with you. We

also came to congratulate you on your appointment as the

commission’s chairman .

“I heard that you did a very good job during the

confirmatory hearing and you showed huge amount of

confidence in the structure. I want to also congratulate thes

new commissioners. It is really wonderful to know that

you have some outstanding individuals among the

commissioners with rich international backgrounds.

“I appreciate all you said and hope that in the future you

will live up to expectations as the commission’s chairman.

I was told that your predecessor, who did very well on the

job, has 75 per cent name recognition in the entire

country. That was a very impressive statistic and it will be

nice if you have the same or above such record.

“I want to equally tell you that we are interested in your

plans concerning Kogi elections. The death of the APC

candidate for that election was a very sad news. We are

equally happy about the plans for the Bayelsa election. We

appreciate the professionalisation of your elections,” he

assured.

Speaking earlier, Yakubu had chronicled the achievements

of the commission, with a promise to improve on other

noticeable areas of deficiency, just as he described the

incident trailing the Kogi governorship election as very

unfortunate.