Date Published: 03/22/11

Jonathan, Jega, governors, for conference on free and fair election

President Goodluck Jonathan, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Attahiru Jega, the 36 State governors, leaders of political parties, diplomatic community, civil society organizationand other stakeholders, will on March 28, 2011 converge at  the presidential villa to deliberate on how to infuse ethics, professionalism and integrity into this year’s elections.

A former Chief Justice, Muhammadu Uwais, will chair  the one-day interactive session, being driven by the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and fixed for 10 a.m. at the Banquet Hall of the presidential villa.

A statement by the Director General of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Asishana Okauru, said the session, which will take a town hall meeting format, will deliberate on the issues, challenges and concerns surrounding the elections. All stakeholders are to commit to a free and fair election that would be acceptable to majority of Nigerians and the international community.

Specific issues that would be discussed at the gathering, Mr. Okauru said, include those bothering on electoral laws and ethics, campaigns, voting day conduct, arbitration and other matters of concerns about the elections.

The 36 State governors will also use the occasion to reaffirm their commitment to a transparent  and violence-free election. The governors had in February committed to a collective pledge to do everything in their power to ensure that the elections meet international standards by being clean, transparent and violence-free.

INEC Chairman, Prof Jega, will give a  keynote address at the session while President Goodluck Jonathan will deliver a special remark. Kwara State Governor and Chairman of the NGF, Dr. Bukola Saraki, will give the opening remark.

In his statement, Mr. Okauru said the NGF decided to convene the session, which would be televised live on the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA), to enable key stakeholders, including candidates for the elections, party chiefs, election monitors, the media and civil society, put aside their differences and sit together to frankly discuss the elections.

“The NGF is passionate about deepening democracy in Nigeria and helping to make the country one of the most attractive democratic brands in the world,” Mr. Okauru said.

“Although some  of the present governors are not up for any election but they are passionate about leaving a legacy of free and fair elections in their states and in the entire country. They sincerely want the forthcoming elections to be transparent and violence free.”