Ekiti, Osun polls, pointers to 2015 elections -US

United States on Wednesday said the conduct of the governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states would 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 organized by the office of his Special Adviser on Inter-Party Affairs, Sen. Ben Obi, promised not to interfere in the election. The Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega, also expressed fears about the reigning violence in Ekiti. Hawkins, who said his country was troubled by reports of violence, threats and intimidation at political rallies in the state 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 electoral process is as good as Nigeria makes it. Nigerians want and desire peaceful and credible election in Ekiti and Osun. Please do everything in your power to meet these expectations.” Jonathan who spoke through Obi said, “No prior administration had given electoral bodies such 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 a free of rancor, manipulation and foul machinations.” 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 hope that political parties would join hands to create enabling environment that will 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 violent-free.” He, however, assured that the commission will not do anything that will undermine its integrity. A former Military Administrator of old Western State, Gen. David Jemibewon, who chaired the event while lamenting that electoral irregularities had caused fracas in the past urged INEC and zecurity agencies to improve upon its performance in Anambra. “They must ensure both impartiality and good control of the logistics of the electoral process while ensuring that nobody is disenfranchised. “The people must be allowed to be the deciding factor. The people must choose their leaders. Dr. Eddie Iroh in his paper titled, ‘Democracy and the politics of elections’, appealed to politicians not to see their opponents as their enemies by being accommodating and tolerant. He asked Ekiti to set a good example of where politicians will concede defeat and congratulate their opponent.