2015: On free, fair election we stand - US •Wants Nigeria to establish election offences tribunal

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AHEAD the 2015 general election in Nigeria, the United States (US) government, on Monday, reiterated his stand for a free and fair general election, adding that it would stand with Nigerians to reject vote selling or buying as well as violence.
This was even as it encouraged the National Assembly to pass a bill that would establish electoral offences tribunals across the country, to serve as deterrent to intending political thugs.
The reiteration of the position of the US government as regards the forthcoming general election, scheduled for next year, was made known by the US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, in Abuja, during the opening ceremony for the third session of the Nigeria/US Bi-National Commission (BNC).
The BNC, which had convened 10 times since the creation of its framework in 2010, serves as forum for high-level conversations on issues of bilateral concerns between both countries and reflected the Nigeria/US bilateral relationship to work together on a broad range of goals.
Ms Thomas-Greenfield led a 23-man team to the meeting, while the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Martin Uhomoibhi, led 68-man delegation from Nigeria.
The leader of the US team expressed hope that her government’s continued electoral assistance would give the needed support to the Nigerian citizens who, she said, deserved elections that would reflect their will.
While commending the conduct of the police and other security operatives during the November 16, 2013 governorship election in Anambra State, the US envoy expressed confidence that the security agents would record same feat in Ekiti and Osun states.
“We also have confidence that in 2015, elections in every polling unit in the country will be safe,” she said, while urging the electorate to hold politicians, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the media, judiciary and security agencies accountable for free and fair elections.
The Assistant Secretary of State, who was visiting the country for the third time since her appointment last year, recalled that in the run-up to Nigeria’s 2011 elections, the US and the United Kingdom (UK) contributed $31.3 million to strengthen the electoral management body and the civil society groups.
“We are proud to support the great electoral success you achieved as a nation and as a people. We stand with the Nigerian people who say loudly that they will not accept electoral tampering, overheated rhetoric, vote selling or buying and violence.
“I have heard my Nigerian friends say repeatedly that anyone who engages in such elections chicanery should be held accountable and they are right. I encourage Nigeria’s National Assembly to pass a legislation that will establish electoral offences tribunals, a legislation that President Goodluck Jonathan proposed when he was vice president.
“We hope that our continued electoral assistance will give the utmost support to the Nigerian people because they deserve nothing less than elections that reflect their will,” she said.
In his remarks, the leader of the Nigerian team, Uhomoibhi, noted that the Federal Government had consistently advocated peaceful and credible elections, devoid of violence.
“In our history as a nation, we have never seen a leader so transparently committed to ensuring a free, credible and fair election as our president. The confidence that he reposes on INEC bears eloquent testimony to this conviction and commitment.
“In his May 29, 2011 address, when he took on the mantle of leadership as president, he said for Africa, the age of liberation and struggle is over. What is important to us at the moment is to ensure the entrenchment of sustainable democracy,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Tribune gathered that the Assistant Secretary of State, Thomas-Greenfield, proceeded to Abuja for the meeting after visiting Kano.
While in Kano, she was said to have met with Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, as part of her continuing discussions with officials, politicians, civil society groups and community leaders on ways to strengthen the Nigeria/US bilateral relationship and partnerships.
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