The European Union (EU) Delegation to Nigeria and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has visited the Election Result Analysis Dashboard (ERAD) Centre in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State and reaffirmed its support for democratic governance, civic innovation and citizen participation through the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN) programme.
The centre is a Yiaga Africa initiative established in 2022 and currently funded under the EU-SDGN programme. The platform uses technology to analyse publicly released election results from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), contributing to research, public understanding, and evidence-based conversations around electoral processes.
During the visit at the weekend, the head of the Governance, Peace, and Migration Section at the European Union Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Reuben Alba Aguilera, said the organisation’s support for the initiative reflected its broader partnership with Nigeria in strengthening democratic governance through locally led institutions and civil society organisations.
The visit formed part of the European Union Delegation’s broader engagement with partners during the Ekiti State governorship election, highlighting the value of collaboration, innovation and locally driven solutions in advancing democratic governance in Nigeria.
He said, “The European Union is proud to support Nigerian organisations that are developing innovative approaches to civic engagement and democratic governance. Through the EU-SDGN programme, we work with a wide range of Nigerian partners to strengthen democratic institutions, encourage informed citizen participation and promote greater public understanding of democratic processes.”
Aguilera noted that initiatives such as the ERAD Centre demonstrate how technology can be used to improve access to information that is already in the public domain.
“The Election Result Analysis Dashboard is an example of how publicly available information can be organised and analysed to support research, public awareness and informed discussion. It is an innovation developed by a Nigerian organisation, and we are pleased that the EU-SDGN programme is supporting its continued development,” Aguilera said.
He emphasised that Nigeria’s elections are conducted and administered by its institutions.
“The organisation and conduct of elections are the responsibility of Nigeria’s constitutional institutions. Our role is to support programmes that strengthen democratic governance, foster civic participation and encourage the exchange of knowledge and good practices through partnerships with Nigerian stakeholders.
“Established by Yiaga Africa, the ERAD Centre analyses polling unit-level election results released by INEC after elections. By applying data analytics to publicly available information, the platform provides insights that support electoral research, civic education and public understanding of election outcomes,” he said.
The centre is one of several initiatives supported under the EU-SDGN programme, the European Union’s flagship democratic governance programme in Nigeria. Through partnerships with Nigerian institutions and civil society organisations, the programme promotes inclusive participation, strengthens democratic governance and supports civic engagement.
