The Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States and Ghanaian President, John Draman Mahama, met with President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday, March 23, in Abuja.
Mahama, alongside ECOWAS Commission President, Desire-Kadre Ouedraogo held a closed door meeting with Jonathan at the presidential wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja to confer on the nation’s forth coming general elections, Premium Times reports.
ECOWAS sources say, the closed door meetings were to reassure, uphold and cement the contenders, umpires assurances on fair and violence free election agreement endorsed by all contenders in the March 28th and April 11th forthcoming elections.
According to the Ghanaian President, who spoke to journalists after the closed door meeting, ECOWAS expects violence-free elections and a post-election that will ensure that Nigeria maintains its place in the region.
He stated that ECOWAS hopes all parties involved in the election would accept the results in good faith announced by INEC.
Mr. Mahama added that ECOWAS will do everything possible to ensure that the elections hold peacefully especially because of the role Nigeria plays in the sub-region.
The Ghanaian President is also scheduled to meet with the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari and the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Attahiru Jega.
President Mahama on arrival at the Nnamdi Azikiwe airport, Abuja on Monday, March 23
President Jonathan with President Mahama
Mahama addressing the press after his meeting with Jonathan
Nigeria’s elections is the topic on almost every lip both locally and internationally. There is heightened fear of violence during and after the elections.
The United States President, Barack Obama, on Monday sent a special message to Nigerians, urging a credible and peaceful polls. President Obama reminded the people about their struggle for the country’s independence from colonialism, the struggle against military dictatorship and the need to turn the country’s diversity into a source of strength.
Obama’s message quickly became a topic of discussion as several people reacted in different ways. Some thanked him for his support, while some others described it as hypocritical.
