The United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon has urged the Federal Government of Nigeria to ensure that the rescheduled dates for the general elections in Nigeria are set in stone. The elections was originally slated for February 14, but later postponed to March 28 and April 11, amid appeals by the armed forces for a six week delay, which will allow them combat the Boko Haram terrorist threat. Ban also stated that the United Nations would continue to closely monitor developments concerning Nigeria’s political landscape.
The Secretary-General further encouraged the presidential candidates to respect the newly scheduled dates for the elections while commending the progress Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had made regarding increased preparations for the elections, especially the notable improvement in ensuring a timely distribution of Permanent Voter Cards.
While expressing strong concerns over reported news regarding election-related violence, he also urged all political leaders to keep to their commitments under the Abuja Accord, “to refrain from inflammatory statements and to immediately condemn any statements from their supporters that amount to an incitement to violence or
subversion of the electoral process.”
