EKITI 2014: US consular-general meets stakeholders over polls. AHEAD the June 21 governorship election in Ekiti State, the United States Consular-General, Mr Jeff Hawkins, has paid an advocacy visit to the state and met with the various stakeholders on the need to ensure a smooth election. Hawkins, while addressing newsmen in Ado-Ekiti, on Tuesday, said he had met with the state governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi; the state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Alhaji Husseini Halilu Pai, the state Commissioner of Police, the media and civil society groups. He said the governorship election in Ekiti “is very important, precursor to the 2015 general election. We’ve seen election in some other states and we are going to keep a close watch on the election.” He stressed that there was the need for all the stakeholders in the election to work towards the attainment of peaceful election, saying that the United States was “working closely with the Nigerian government on issues of elections, democracy and good governance.” “It is clear that there are issues to be worked out,” Hawkins said, but expressed confidence in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to improve on the previous elections in the country. “Nigeria is a great country and it is strategic in African continent. We are not only providing fund to help the country, but we are going to help in the technical aspects for the 2015 elections to be a success. We have strong relationship with the Professor Attahiru Jega-led INEC,” he added. The US envoy decried the killings of school children in Yobe State by the Boko Haram sect and expressed concern that activities of the sect could mar the conduct of the 2015 elections if not checkmated.
Posted on: Wed, 12 Mar 2014 09:35:51 +0000
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