The British Government on Thursday urged the Federal Government to ensure that the April general election was free and fair.
�For historical reason, Britain is interested in Nigeria and as a reflection of our friendship, we are especially interested in the forthcoming elections,� the British Minister for Africa, Mr. David Triesman, said.
He spoke just as President Olusegun Obasanjo dispelled fears by opposition parties that the Peoples Democratic Party was determined to rig the poll.
Triesman, who was on a visit to the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Maurice Iwu, in Abuja, said the Federal Government must put in place measures to avert violence and intimidation of the opposition during the poll.
The advice by Britain was the second in three months.
The country had on November 17, 2006 cautioned politicians against derailing the transition to another civilian administration on May 29, 2007.
Triesman, however, restated that Britain was anxiously looking forward to seeing Nigeria transit from one civilian administration to another.
He added, �We are looking forward to May 29 so that we can come for the inauguration of a new government. Britain will be willing to send some of its officials to witness the inauguration.�
He charged INEC to redouble its effort at making the poll fraud-free.
Triesman said, �We congratulate you for working hard to give Nigeria a free and fair election. To us, the critical thing is that the election should happen without violence and intimidation.�
Responding, Iwu assured the minister that his commission would do everything possible to make the elections free and fair.
INEC, according to him, had compiled a credible voter register, opened up the political space by registering more political parties and localised ballot papers for the poll.
�Everything that we have done so far is targeted at having a healthy electoral environment. We have put a premium on zero-tolerance for violence and I can say that we have made gains in our efforts,� he added.
The INEC chairman said that the elections would not only hold as scheduled, they would also be credible and acceptable to Nigerians and the international community.
He insisted that the commission would not allow those who did not meet the constitutional requirements for seeking elective offices to participate in the general election.
Iwu also disclosed that the names of those who engaged in multiple registration during the ongoing voter registration would be published �in an ignoble list.�
Triesman had at a breakfast meeting with President Olusegun Obasanjo on Thursday said the elections were attracting a �huge interest in the United Kingdom and the international community.�
He said that Obasanjo was �leaving a stunning legacy of remarkable changes� in Nigeria and Africa.
�Your reforms are a fantastic legacy for Nigeria, and the international community recognises this,� the minister had told the President.
In his remark, Obasanjo expressed strong belief that a credible poll would be conducted by INEC.
�I am optimistic about the electoral process,� he said.
The President added that the PDP had without any prompting from INEC dropped four of its governorship candidates.
Obasanjo, who however, did not disclose the names of the affected candidates, explained that the decision was in line with the party�s determination to present credible candidates for all the elections.
He advised INEC to avoid distractions and remain focused.
The President further said he was looking forward to May 29, when, for the first time since independence, Nigeria would successfully transit from one democratically elected government to another, and from one personality to another.
He expressed his gratitude to the British Prime Minister, Mr. Tony Blair, �whose strong support enabled us to get the debt reliefs.�
Other issues discussed at the meeting attended by the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Richard Gozney, and Nigeria�s Minister of Education, Mrs. Obiageli Ezekwesili, included the situation in Somalia and the Darfur region of Sudan.
Meanwhile, the PDP electioneering train on Monday moved to the North-Central where the President said that the party had no cause to rig the April elections.
He told the PDP supporters in Lafia, Nasarawa State, that the party would guard against rigging because it was undemocratic.
Obasanjo said, �Some people say they are conspiring maybe because they want to rig election. We have no cause to rig election. We as a party will fight against rigging of election because that is not democratic.
�Everything we do and everything we will do will be democratic because that is where the power lies � in democracy.�
He described the PDP presidential candidate, Alhaji Umar Yar�Adua, and his running mate, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, as well as all the governorship candidates in the zone as good products.
The President, therefore, urged the crowd to go to the nooks and crannies of the zone to campaign for them since �good products should be promoted and marketed.�
He observed that instead of matching the PDP in ideals and manifesto, opposition parties had been going into conspiracy.
Obasanjo said,�These people, instead of working out a constructive and positive way of trying to match the PDP, rather go into conspiracy.
�We on our part feel strong, re-energised and committed because what it means is that they have nothing to offer other than conspiracy, other than bad belle, and bad belle doesn�t win anything.
�We have our programme from the federal level to the local government level; we have our manifesto, and in our manifesto, we have taken care of every item that is of importance � security, agriculture, industry, water resources, education and health.
�This time around, every elected PDP official will be monitored by the party because we have a mandate and a manifesto. The party will ask you, �Where are you?� and �what have you achieved� because there are targets and objectives to be achieved.�
Saying that the PDP had been performing true to its name, Obasanjo added that the party was concerned about people, their work, their health and their lives.
He tasked all the governorship candidates in the zone to take agriculture very seriously after education and health.
Yar�Adua told the party faithful that the PDP was the road to Nigeria�s greatness and prosperity.
He said Nigeria would by 2020 be one of the most powerful countries in the world.
To achieve this feat, however, the presidential candidate said it required hard work, sacrifice and dedication from all Nigerians.
Earlier, the PDP National Chairman, Dr. Ahmadu Ali, presented the party�s flags to all the governorship candidates in the zone. They included candidates from Nasarawa, Plateau, Kogi, Niger, Benue, and Kwara states.
The rally was also attended by the party�s Chairman, Board of Trustees, Chief Tony Anenih; its Deputy Chairman, South, Chief Olabode George; Deputy Senate President, Alhaji Ibrahim Mantu; and Senator Tunde Ogbeha.