Nigeria has pledged to assist neighbouring Benin Republic develop its Information Technology (IT) towards the conduct of successful general elections next month.
Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu made the pledge when he received a delegation of Benin Electoral Commission led by the Bennenoise Ambassador to Nigeria, Dr. Oyedipo Falaye.
Attributing the successful conduct of the 2015 general elections in Nigeria to the use of Information Technology, the INEC boss said: “The change that made the (2015) election a success was Information Technology, beginning with voter registration, collation and transmission of results.”
In a related development, Bio Abdoulaye Tchane, an independent candidate, has emerged as the frontrunner in the run-up to the country’s presidential elections.
Tchane, an economist and former top executive at the International Monetary Fund (IMF), is also a former head of the West African Development Bank.
He announced his candidacy at a rally in the capital, Porto Novo, last month.
He will run against Prime Minister Lionel Zinsou of the ruling Cowry Forces for an Emerging Benin and Sebastien Ajavon, the leader of Benin’s National Employer’s Council.
Tchane, 58, a former finance minister, is being supported by a coalition of parties called ABT, the initials of his surname and other names.
In a new opinion poll released in the French speaking West African country last week, he polled 21.9% and was closely trailed by his closest rival who got 20.5%.
Currently the Chairman, Board of Directors of African Guarantee Fund (AGF) based in Nairobi, Kenya, Tchane, is also former Minister of Finance and Economy from 1998 to 2002, during which he introduced far reaching reforms and transparent budgeting and procurement policies, which reduced the country’s internal debt and auditing systems.
An author of many articles and opinions on economic and financial issues, Tchane also had stints at the Central Bank of West African State (BCEAO) in Cotonou and in Dakar, Senegal, as Director of Research and Head, Credit Department, amongst several other high profile international appointments. The Nation
