Credible elections in Africa: Buhari calls for UN assistance on modern technologies for elections
President Muhammadu Buhari has called on the United Nations to assist African countries in the acquisition and use of innovative technologies to ensure more credible elections.
The President was speaking against the background of upcoming elections in Cote D’Ivoire, Guinea and Burkina Faso.
“When citizens recognize that their votes count, it will boost their confidence in democracy and their countries’ electoral systems,” he said on Friday at an audience with Mohammed Ibn Chambas, the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Office for West Africa.
Buhari who received the Chambas at the Presidential Villa, Abuja recalled that in the last general elections in Nigeria, the Independent National Electoral Commission had used smart card readers to authenticate prospective voters adding that while Nigeria could afford the use of such technology in its elections, other African countries may require support and assistance from the international community.
The President also told Chambas that with the coalition of Nigeria and neighbouring countries now have an increased capacity to deal effectively with Boko Haram and other terrorist groups.
President Buhari reaffirmed his belief that the full activation and deployment of the Multi National Joint Task Force which has been established under the auspices of the Lake Chad Basin Commission will lead to the speedy defeat and elimination of Boko Haram.
The President added that with the Command and Control Centre of the Nigerian military now in Maiduguri, Borno State, the morale of troops in the front-line states had improved significantly.
“You can tell the Secretary-General that we are doing our best and our best will be good enough for the nation and the sub-region,’’ President Buhari told Dr. Ibn Chambas.
Dr. Ibn Chambas commended President Buhari for his strong and positive actions against terrorism.
The United Nations envoy also welcomed President Buhari’s successful visit to Cameroon this week and his reaffirmation of Nigeria’s commitment to the peaceful resolution of all border issues with Cameroon.
Elizabeth Archibong