Maintain New Election Dates, UN Scribe Urges FG, INEC

The United Nations Secretary-General, Mr. Ban Ki-moon, has strongly urged the Federal Government and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure the new general elections’ dates of March 28 and April 11 are maintained, in accordance with the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution.

The Secretary-General, in a statement issued in New York yesterday and released by UN Spokesman, Stephane DuJarric, also welcomed the commitments by the candidates to the Presidency to respect the new calendar.

The UN Scribe, according to the statement, commended the progress made by INEC in the preparation for the elections, including the distribution of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs). He urged all relevant national institutions to continue to work with INEC to ensure all voters can exercise their constitutional right to participate in the elections freely and without intimidation.

The Secretary-General nevertheless expressed strong concern over reports of election-related violence, according to a release by the National Information Officer, United Nations Information Centre (UNIC), Mr. Oluseyi Soremekun, in Lagos.

Ban urged all political leaders to adhere to their commitments under the Abuja Accord, to refrain from inflammatory statements and to immediately condemn any statements from their supporters that amount to an incitement to violence or subversion of the electoral process.

The Secretary-General reiterated to Nigerians that the United Nations will be closely following developments and is offering its full support to Nigeria at this important moment. His High-Level Representative to Nigeria, Mohamed Ibn Chambas, will remain actively engaged with the Nigerian authorities over the coming weeks, the statement noted.