Nigeria still on course for credible polls, says UN

Posted by admin Elections 2011 Thursday, April 7th, 2011

THE United Nations (UN) on Tuesday expressed the belief that Nigeria was on track in spite of the shift in dates of the general elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC.)

The UN spokesperson, Martin Nesirky, made this known to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in New York on the sidelines of the daily briefing of the global body.
“We are aware of the postponement and we are sure that things are on track,” he stated.

Meanwhile, the African Union (AU) Election Observer Team says it will remain in Nigeria to observe the rescheduled general election in the country.

A statement issued yesterday by Ms Yaye Sene, information officer attached to the team, said the decision was taken on Tuesday in Abuja following a meeting on the postponement of the elections.

Nesirky said that the UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon, had reaffirmed his confidence in the progress achieved by Nigeria in consolidating democracy since 1999.

Ban had in a statement issued on the eve of the first rescheduled National Assembly elections expressed the hope that the forthcoming polls would meet the high expectations of Nigerians and the international community.

Sene, on her part, said the monitors, who were recalled from the various states they were deployed to monitor the elections, agreed with INEC to postpone last Saturday’s election.

She said the team noted with satisfaction the massive presence of security personnel at polling stations.

The team advised Nigerians not to be disheartened by the postponement of the elections and urged them to go out and vote on the new dates announced by INEC.

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