APC Says Jonathan’s Pledge On Free And Fair Polls Comforting

Posted by African Examiner Latest Headlines, News, Nigeria 2015 Election Thursday, January 1st, 2015

By Niyi Adeyi, Lagos – The Nigeria leading opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) has hailed President Goodluck Jonathan’s commitment to conduct free, fair and violence-free elections this year, yet urged him to match his promise with action.

The party in a statement issued in Lagos Thursday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, in reaction to Mr. President’s 2015 New Year message, expressed satisfaction that the number one citizen and his party by this pronunciation have come out publicly to join the opposition in pledging commitment to successful and violence-free polls next month.

”In a statement we issued on December 28th 2014, we assured Nigerians that we will do everything in our power to make the 2015 elections violence-free. Since then, PDP National Chairman, Adamu Mu’azu and the President have joined us in making similar pledges. This is a welcome development that will gladden the hearts of our citizens who are very apprehensive about the forthcoming elections,” the party observed.

APC however said the best way to make the elections free, fair and devoid of violence was for the Federal Government to ensure a level playing field for all the parties by not tampering with the independence of the INEC; not using the security agencies to witch-hunt the opposition and not deliberately disenfranchising all those who were qualified to vote

”If an election is free, fair and transparent and seen to be so by all, it will be easy for all concerned to accept the outcome, and there will be no violence. Violence only occurs when there is a realization that the process has been skewed against some and in favour of others,” the party restated.

In the meantime, the party has reassured Nigerians and the international community that it would do all in its power to make sure that this year general election were violence-free

”We also restate our stand that even with the little time left for the election to hold, a meeting of the leadership of the two main political parties, the APC and the PDP, will send a powerful message to our compatriots and indeed the international community and douse the tension that is building up ahead of the election,” APC affirmed.

The opposition wished all Nigerians a Happy New Year, while calling them to be prepared to use their votes to install a government that would make their dreams come true and make Nigeria a proud member of the comity of nations.