Prof. Attahiru Jega, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, has said that the commission considered stakeholders’ support and cooperation as crucial in the conduct of credible elections in 2015.
Jega said this on Wednesday in Abuja at the commission’s second quarterly meeting with its state Resident Electoral Commissioners.
The INEC chairman said that the successful conduct of the Ekiti State governorship election on Saturday was a good omen as it gave hope for “a consolidated democracy” that would satisfy the aspiration of Nigerians.
He said: “The successful conduct of free, fair and peaceful election in Ekiti is a good omen for subsequent elections to come and indeed for the satisfaction of the aspiration of Nigerians for a consolidated democracy.
“We must, therefore, not rest on our oars, but continue to do our best collectively to sustain and keep on improving on this achievement.
“The upcoming election in Osun State, God willing, should on all counts be better and the 2015 general elections must be the best.
“It is a challenge for all of us to join hands and continue to work together to ensure this necessary outcome.
“I wish to use this opportunity to also reassure Nigerians and friends of the Nigeria that INEC will continue to do its best to bring free, fair, credible and peaceful general elections in Nigeria in 2015.
“We, therefore, hope to continue to count on the support, cooperation and understanding of all towards attaining the objective.”
Jega commended the Ekiti State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Alhaji Hussani Pai, and his staff for holding an election “generally acclaimed as the best election so far conducted by the commission”.
He said: “I also wish to thank all the National Commissioners, Resident Electoral Commissioners and other staff of INEC, who supported the conduct of the election in Ekiti State.
“We must also say thank you to all stakeholders whose positive involvement in the process has resulted in the successful conduct of the election, such as the young men and women of the NYSC and other tertiary institutions, security agencies, political parties, civil society organisations, the candidates and a host of others.”
Jega said that the efforts of all those stakeholders helped making the election in Ekiti what it turned out to be.
“That is how it should be, and it is a very good lesson for our future elections,” Jega said.
The meeting was attended by INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioners nationwide.
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