US Cautions Politicians Over Ekiti, Osun Polls United States on Wednesday said the conduct of the governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun States will set the standard for the 2015 general elections. The US Consular General, Jeffrey Hawkins, stated this in Ado-Ekiti, at a sensitisation workshop for political parties, candidates and stakeholders ahead of the June 21 governorship election in Ekiti State. President Goodluck Jonathan at the event organised by the office of his Special Adviser on Inter-Party Affairs, Senator Ben Obi, promised not to interfere in the election. The Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega, also expressed fears about the reign of violence in Ekiti. Hawkins, who said his country was troubled by reports of violence, threats and intimidation at political rally in Ekiti urged political parties to play by the rule. He said, “The world is watching this election just like the world will be watching in 2015. Political parties and candidates must learn to accept defeat. “Nigeria’s electoral process is as good as Nigerians make it. Nigerians want and desire peaceful and credible election in Ekiti and Osun. Please, do everything in your power to meet these expectations,” he added. Jonathan, who spoke through Obi said, “No prior administration had given electoral bodies the free-hand in electoral process without intervention from Abuja. “The Federal Government has continued to put in place structures that will ensure that elections in the country are free of rancor, manipulation and foul machinations,” he added. Obi explained that the workshop was for stakeholders to rub minds on how to ensure a crises-free election in Ekiti State. He said, “All candidates must, therefore, ensure that their supporters are thoroughly informed that in any election there must emerge only one winner. “We should therefore eschew all wanton acts that could spike the situation and escalate political insecurity, acrimony and rancor. It is our duty to guarantee sanctity of people’s votes and ensure safety of life, public and private property. Therefore, the education of party supporters, loyalists and all citizens should be of prime concern to all stakeholders.” Expressing the hope that political parties would join hands to create the enabling environment that would lead to sustained wealth creation and poverty reduction, Obi said, “it is the right time for politicians to stop engaging in politics of survival and domination and concentrate on politics of nation-building and national integration.” Jega, who was represented by the INEC Commissioner, South West, Prof. Lai Olorode, said, “With what we are seeing, we are already nursing fears. We are frightened with what read in papers. Political rally is no longer violence-free.” Meanwhile, it was learnt on Wednesday that the police will deploy no fewer than 12,000 policemen including eight Commissioners of Police in Ekiti for the June 21 governorship election. The Commissioner of Police, Mr. Felix Uyanna, disclosed this at a sensitisation workshop for Ekiti State political parties and stakeholders in Ado-Ekiti. He spoke after the Peoples Democratic Party’s governorship candidate, Mr. Ayo Fayose, at the event, blamed the police for the violence in the state. Fayose said, “If police can check armed robbers, they can check politicians. “Any PDP member caught for violence should be arrested. There is little INEC can do in the face of violence. The police and other security agencies are not doing enough in Ekiti. There is no violence unless as orchestrated by the referees (security agencies),” he said.
Posted on: Thu, 29 May 2014 04:17:25 +0000
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