Nigeria's Rescheduled Elections To Cost EU Election Observation Mission 1.8 Million Euros

The EU Election Observation Mission to Nigeria will require an extra 1.8 million Euros budget to remain in the country to carry out its assignment following the rescheduling of the polls, an official stated. The Chief Observer of the mission, Santiago Fisas, made the development known in a media interaction in Abuja on Thursday. Fisas stated that the extra funds would raise the mission’s budget for monitoring the polls to 6.2 million Euros. The official stated the team would work in all the geo-political zones in the country, except the northeast but added that some members of the mission would observe holidays for about 10 days. “We will go to the northeast if the government guarantees security in the area,” he stated. Fisas stated the team would be in Kano on Friday to discuss with the Emir of Kano and the governor of the state. He stated that the team would also visit the Sultan of Sokoto and the Catholic archbishop of Abuja. Fisas stated he had fruitful meetings with political stakeholders in the country, especially the presidential candidates of Peoples Democratic Party and All Progressives Congress and their political parties. On the rescheduling of the polls by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the chief observer stated that the mission was aware that the commission did so within the provisions of the law. He stated Europe and the rest of the world were interested in the elections and were supporting and watching the process keenly.