 The European Union says it will support Nigeria in achieving free, fair and credible elections in 2023. The EU ambassador to Nigeria, Samuela Isopi, set out the ex-Durian Akhetsevesi to the Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, at the Government House in Benin City. Isopi described Nigeria as very important to the EU and its global neighbours. She noted that the EU had supported INEC and other stakeholders but providing technical assistance as well as expertise. Today it's 70 days ahead of elections so we also try to use the opportunity of our visits to the states in Nigeria to engage with political actors and to discuss issues related to elections. And the reason is very simple. The European Union has been supporting election processes in Nigeria since the return to the civilian rule. We have consistently deployed election observation missions and we will do the same thing for the next upcoming elections. But we also have consistently supported INEC and others they called us by providing technical support, expertise, technical assistance and this is what we are also doing right now. And I said that good elections in Nigeria, which means peaceful elections, free and fair elections, transparent elections, are not only in the interest of Nigerians and Nigeria, it is also, they are also in the interest of Europe. We are your main neighbour. We have an interest in having a strong democratic stable Nigeria and that's why we have supported Nigerian democracy and we will continue to do so. And as you know, the EU has always supported the electionary process. They give a lot of, they send missions here to observe elections and they have studies and reports they've done over the years on the conduct of all their elections, at least since this republic. And cleaning from those reports, they've come to check, to also see and advise the areas and what we can do to make sure that we have a properly conducted, transparent, fair and safe elections this time around. So, you know, they've come in the true spirit of partnership to come and see how we can work together, how we can support our efforts, not only at the political level, the cultural level, the issues of economy, but to just make and show that we continue to strengthen the relationship between, you know, not just Nigeria and the EU, but also sub-nationals.