National Independent Electoral Commission chairperson Halima Ismail held a meeting with Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission Prof. Mohmood Yakubu, on the eve of Nigeria’s elections. The two discussed on the preparations of the upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections, scheduled to take place today.
The elections were postponed due to what the electoral body termed as logistical constraints.
Nigeria’s electoral chair assured all stakeholders and observers of a free and credible elections and his commitment have a good relation with all parties involved with the elections.
The two electoral chairs discussed how they can foster a good working relationship between the two Country’s election commissions. Through their participation, Somalia’s electoral body looks forward to learn from Nigeria’s electoral commission as they prepare to hold a universal suffrage election in 2020, the first ever in fifty years.
The INEC chair Prof. Yakubu assured Ms. Halima of his commissions commitment to work with Somalia’s electoral body through capacity injection. He expressed optimism of engaging together, with the two country’s diplomatic ties having restored with the recent announcement by Nigeria of establishing an embassy in Mogadishu.
Ms. Halima was taken around the Commissions election centers, where the elections tallying and reporting are to be held.
Ms. Halima is on an AU Election Observation mission. The mission had met with stakeholders involved with the elections such as political parties, Civil society organizations, other election observer groups.