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INEC Chairman, Attahiru Jega |
By: Chuks Okocha
The United States government has pledged to step up support
for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) towards ensuring the
success of the 2015 general election.
This pledge was made yesterday by the American envoy to
Nigeria, Ambassador Terence P. McCulley, when he visited INEC Chairman,
Professor Attahiru Jega, at the Commission’s headquarters
According to a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the
INEC Chairman, Kayode Idowu, Ambassador McCulley said that the United States
would continue its collaboration with INEC to promote democracy in Nigeria, and
would be glad to offer whatever additional assistance was necessary for
deepening the electoral process.
Jega told the envoy that INEC hopes for early amendment of
legal provisions deemed to constrain the aspiration for flawless elections in
the country. He said the Commission came away with this optimism from the
Retreat it held with relevant Senate and House of Representative committees on
the 16th and 17th April, 2013, in Sokoto.
The INEC Chairman also said the Commission would intensify
its engagement with political parties between now and 2015 to encourage
internal party democracy in accordance with provisions of the law.
Responding to a question by Ambassador McCulley whether INEC
has a set standard for what constitutes internal democracy in political
parties, Jega said: “INEC has begun quarterly meetings with registered
political parties intended to build mutual confidence and promote mutual
understanding. It is our hope that through series of engagements between now
and 2015, we can be emphatic about the provisions of the law on internal party
democracy.”
He expressed appreciation for the assistance being provided
by the United States government, especially through the USAID which
periodically provides BRIDGE training for INEC staff and presently offers
technical support for on-going efforts by the Commission to conduct
delimitation of constituencies.
Ambassador McCulley assured that the support would continue,
and would be upscaled as necessary.
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