Jega Invites Political Stakeholders In Edo To A Meeting On Friday

Prof Attahiru Jega, the Chairman of INEC, has invited the chairmen and secretaries, as well as the candidates of all the parties contesting the governorship election in Edo to a meeting in Abuja on Friday.
A statement signed by him on Tuesday in Abuja named the invited parties as Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), and Labour Party (LP).
Others are the National Conscience Party (NCP), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Social Democratic Mega Party (SDMP).
Jega said that the meeting had become necessary because since the commission announced the date of the election, political parties had expressed concerns about INEC's preparedness for the election.
He said that the unfolding political events in Edo portend danger for the governorship election holding on July 14, adding that the happenings in the state had over heated the polity.
The chairman reassured the political parties, candidates and indeed all Nigerians of its commitment to free, fair and credible governorship election in Edo.
He said that in as much as such concerns and anxiety were expected in the build-up to an election, it was important that  conduct of the polls was not unduly threatened by actions and utterances of all stakeholders.
Jega added that in the past few weeks, the commission had received petitions from the various political parties in the state.
He said some of the accusations were directed at political parties and candidates, while others were directed at the INEC’s preparedness for the election.
``The principles that have guided the work of this Commission are transparency, honesty and creation of a level playing field for all political parties and their candidates.

``The commission remains committed to these principles,'' Jega said. (NAN)