President Olusegun Oba-sanjo yesterday tasked the Independent Nation-al Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct credible, transparent, free and fair elections in April, saying it remains the only guarantee for the survival of Nigeria as a democratic nation.
The President who was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief Ufot Ekaette at the closing ceremony of the Second National Forum on �Nigeria�s 2007 General Elections: The Journey So Far� by INEC and the Joint Donor Basket Fund said that the April elections is the most critical development effort of the century.
According to the President, �the survival of Nigeria as a democratic depends on the conduct of a transparent, credible, free and fair elections.�
Calling on INEC not to fail the nation at this crucial time, the President tasked the electoral body to deliver credible elections that would be acceptable to all parties at all cost.
The President commended participants at the seminar, describing their presence as an indication of their commitment to successful elections. He said that their deliberations would provide the road map for a smooth democratic journey for Nigeria.
He gave kudos to INEC for adopting the Direct Data Capture Machine in the registration of voters noting that it is an antidote to election rigging.
President Obasanjo said that the Direct Data Capture Machine will make it difficult for election riggers to manipulate the elections as results would be tabulated at the election venues and sent to the collating centres for announcement.
Earlier, INEC Chair-man, Professor Maurice Iwu pledged that he and his team would conduct credible elections that would stand the test of time.
He reiterated the commission�s call to political parties to substitute their candidates that have been disqualified, warning that once the deadline is over by Tuesday next week that the issue would not be reopened.
Iwu urged politicians to beware of the circulation of forged forms purporting to be from the commission on the qualification and disqualification of candidates. According to him, �some of these forms are being offered for sale by fraudulent characters.�
Participants at the forum tasked the commission to put in place measures to monitor politicians who violate the electoral guidelines, especially as it relates to campaign funds.
They urged for vigilance on the part of INEC warning that politicians may have perfected plans at circumventing the provisions of the electoral act, especially that on campaign funds.
Mrs. Ayo Obe of theNational Democratic Institute described the role of civil society organisations in the 2007 polls as the bridge between the electorates and INEC and other government agencies.
She explained that Nigerians have a lot of distrust on the electoral process, hence the active participation of the civil societies to educate the civil populace.
She canvassed for improved electoral processes if the 2007 elections is to surpass that of 2003 and 1999 elections in terms of delivery.
Ambassador Brownson Dede observed that democracy could only be deepened if the civil societies are taken on board. He said that it was was on account of this that the commission had received over 150 applications seeking to monitor the April elections.
However, he said that the applications would be changed to observers, as it is only INEC that has the right to monitor elections.