By Awaal Gata
Abuja
Despite the security challenges confronting the nation, especially in the North, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) remains positive and focused, believing that the security agencies would overcome the challenges and provide an enabling environment for the Commission to deliver better elections in 2015, the commission’s Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, has said.
Jega expressed the optimism when the U.S. Under Secretary For Civilian Security, Democracy And Human Rights, Dr Serah Sewall, led a delegation to the Commission recently.
He said though the Commission did not underestimate the security challenges, it remained positive that with efforts of the government and the support of development partners, the country should be able to substantially address the situation, thereby creating an environment for credible elections.
Jega said the Commission was working under the assumption that it would conduct elections in all parts of Nigeria.
He said: “We remain focused that as an Election Management Body (EMB), we will do our best relying on others, especially the security agencies to do their best in terms of protecting the voting environment and mitigating conflicts.”
Those in Sewall’s delegation were James Entwistle, U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria; Anna Cave, Senior Adviser; Steve Schwartz, African Bureau (West Africa) Office Director and Gregory Lawless, Political Counselor.