Brussels, 22/01/2015 (Agence Europe) - The European Union is to observe the general elections in Nigeria in February. Santiago Fisas Ayxela MEP (EPP, Spain) has been appointed chief observer by High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini, and will lead the EU electoral observation mission (EUOM). He will travel to Nigeria next week.
“The EU stands with the Nigerians in their efforts to ensure democratic elections and respect of rule of law. This is all the more critical as the country is confronted with the challenge of fighting Boko Haram terrorism”, Mogherini stated in a press release on 22 January. She called on “all stakeholders to work toward transparent and credible elections and to reject violence”.
An advance team of observers was deployed back in November and December to assess the electoral preparations, including the voter registration. The core EUOM team, comprising eight observers, has been working since 6 January to coordinate all the work. Thirty long-term observers were deployed on 12 January. A delegation of MEPs and diplomats will assist the mission on election day. The presidential elections are scheduled for 14 February, and the election of the governors and the parliamentary ballot for 28 February.