United States Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Ms Linda Thomas-Greenfield on Monday implored the Nigerian Government to establish an electoral offences tribunal ahead of the 2015 general elections.
Speaking in Abuja during the opening of the Nigeria-U.S. Bi-National Commission (BNC) working group’s meeting on good governance, transparency and integrity, Thomas-Greenfield explained that the tribunal would attend to matters relating to punishment of election offenders.
She stated the support of the U.S. government with the section of Nigerians that has been vocal on the need to resist all forms of accept electoral tampering, overly heated rhetoric, vote selling or buying and violence.
“I have heard my Nigerian friends say, repeatedly, that anyone who engages in such elections chicanery should be held accountable and they are right”, she said.
“I encourage Nigeria’s National Assembly to pass a legislation that will establish an electoral offences tribunal, a legislation that President Goodluck Jonathan proposed when he was Vice President”.
Thomas-Greenfield expressed hope the continued electoral assistance of the U.S government will be useful in supporting the desire of Nigerians for elections that reflect their will. She also commended the conduct of the Police and other security agencies during November’s Anambra State governorship election.
“We have confidence that if the Nigerian Police, the Military and other security services are allowed to do their jobs professionally as they did in Anambra, elections can be held safely in Ekiti and Osun this year”, she said, further expressing confidence that during the 2015 general elections, all polling units in the country will be safe and free from violence.
