HOW TO AVERT CRISIS :

•. Step up efforts to contain conflict in North-east and ensure elections are held in all

states. • Direct publicly the heads of

the Nigeria Police Force and

other security agencies to act

lawfully and impartially. • Avoid inflammatory rhetoric, publicly denounce violence, pledge to respect rules.

• Respect party constitutions and particularly allow democratic candidate selections. • Organise national, regional, ethnic and inter-faith public forums to jointly and publicly commit to non-violence. • Ensure speedy passage of the

amended Electoral Act. • Approve urgently supplementary funds for INEC to meet its logistical requirements. • Intensify efforts to build relations with all parties, particularly opposition parties. • Improve security arrangements for the elections by training more personnel for election duties. • Direct publicly all officers to ensure neutrality in relations with all parties and apply exemplary sanctions against any officer who fails to comply. • Engage more actively with

youth leaders. • Ensure factual and balanced reporting of all election-related developments. • Sustain ongoing capacity building programs for major institutions involved in the elections, particularly INEC and the police. • Deploy observer missions for longer periods before and after the votes to monitor the process more comprehensively. • Create a common donor forum for collectively messaging and pressuring President Jonathan, political parties and their candidates, security agencies and all other stakeholders to act lawfully and prevent or mitigate violence.