Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Nigerian Elections

Tuesday 14 March 2023 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The UK provided 5 million to Nigerian civil society for election integrity and voter engagement.
  • British high commission observers were deployed to polling stations in seven states.
  • The Government acknowledges the importance of Nigerian political stability for UK prosperity and security.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Chi Onwurah Lab Newcastle upon Tyne Central and West
Democracy & Elections Foreign Affairs
Context

Following the recent Nigerian elections, there are concerns about technology, security, and communications issues raised by Ndi Igbo North East England and the EU. The UK provided £5 million in financial support to Nigerian civil society for election integrity.

Question

The UK has a vibrant and engaged Nigerian diaspora; I count myself one of them. Ndi Igbo North East England, in my constituency, expressed concerns about serious failures of technology, security and communications in last month's presidential elections, as did the European Union. Given that the Government have provided financial support to Nigerian civil society on election integrity and technical advice to the independent national electoral commission, what does the Minister think went wrong?

Answer from Andrew Mitchell

The hon. Lady is entirely right to say that we provided £5 million of taxpayer's money to civil society, to boost citizen education and voter engagement; also, the British high commission deployed observers to polling stations across seven states. We commend all those involved for their commitment to democracy and, importantly in respect of her question, to resolving disputes through the courts and through peaceful means.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not directly address what went wrong with technology, security, and communications issues raised by Ndi Igbo North East England and the EU

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Q2 Chi Onwurah Lab Newcastle upon Tyne Central and West
Democracy & Elections Foreign Affairs
Context

Following the recent Nigerian elections, there are concerns about technology, security, and communications issues raised by Ndi Igbo North East England and the EU. The UK provided £5 million in financial support to Nigerian civil society for election integrity.

Question

Given that the Government have provided financial support to Nigerian civil society on election integrity and technical advice to the independent national electoral commission, what does the Minister think went wrong with the technology, security, and communications issues?

Answer from Andrew Mitchell

The hon. Lady is entirely right to say that we provided £5 million of taxpayer's money to civil society, to boost citizen education and voter engagement; also, the British high commission deployed observers to polling stations across seven states. We commend all those involved for their commitment to democracy and, importantly in respect of her question, to resolving disputes through the courts and through peaceful means.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not directly address what went wrong with technology, security, and communications issues raised by Ndi Igbo North East England and the EU

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Q3 Lyn Brown Lab
Foreign Affairs
Context

The Government's development support for Nigeria has been significantly reduced. There is concern that a lack of trust in Nigerian political institutions could impact both countries' prosperity and security.

Question

I am enormously grateful, Mr Speaker. Nigeria is a fast-growing country and connections between our communities are flourishing, so if Nigerians lose trust in their political institutions, it will affect our prosperity and security too. Yet the Government's development support for Nigeria has been slashed, our offer is lacking and our voice is weak. Surely we need to develop a strategy for partnership in Nigeria and across the whole of Africa. How is the Minister going to deliver on that?

Answer from Andrew Mitchell

We are working incredibly closely with all our partners across Africa, none more so than Nigeria. We have been heavily engaged in recent events. We note that the gubernatorial elections have been rescheduled for 18 March, but the Government have congratulated President-elect Tinubu. We look forward to working with his Administration and dealing with exactly the matters that the hon. Lady has so eloquently raised.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide specific details on developing a strategy for partnership in Nigeria and across Africa

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