The Nigerian Government has assured the European Union, EU, election Observation Mission that the May 29th handover date was sacrosanct.
The Chief Observer of the election mission, Mr Santiago Fisas, told State House correspondents on Monday after he led a delegation to meet with President Goodluck Jonathan in the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
He said the mission was in Nigeria to observe the forthcoming general election and to find out efforts put in place for a peaceful and hitch free exercise.
“As the Chief of Observer European Union, I must meet with all the candidates for these elections. I met twice with General Buhari and today President Jonathan very kindly accepted to receive me and my team, the EU Ambassador, the Deputy of Observer European Union colleagues, just to have exchange of views about the elections.
I’m very happy to be assured by the President that the inauguration of the next president will take place on May 29th. I think this is very good news because this is constitutional.” He said.
On the optimism of government’s efforts on the forthcoming elections Mr Fisas said “Yes. I don’t see why I should doubt that. The President said that publicly and also to us. We asked questions on security and he said to us that, in a very short period of time the security situation will improve a lot”.
The delegation of the EU Election Observer Mission had earlier held similar meetings with the Presidential candidate of the opposition, All Progressives Congress, APC, General Muhammadu Buhari on the peaceful conduct of the elections.
Other similar international organisations are also in Nigeria to monitor the general election slated to hold as from March 28, 2015.
President Jonathan used the opportunity of the meeting with the EU delegation to clarify the insinuation in some quarters over the alleged institution of an Interim National Government which he described as mischievous and baseless.
The President reportedly told his guests that he would not take such step because Interim National Government was alien to the nation’s constitution.
He therefore urged his guests, Nigerians and other stakeholders to discard the rumour which is fast gaining ground.
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