Presidency, APC in Face-off in Washington over 2015 Elections

The presidency and opposition political leaders are set to confront each other today in Washington DC, the United States, at a debate on the sincerity of the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan towards delivering free and fair elections next year.

APC vs PDP

Presidency officials are led by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Communications, Dr. Doyin Okupe, while the spokesman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Lai Mohammed, is to articulate issues from the perspective of the opposition. Both teams arrived at the weekend in Washington D.C for the debate.

According to a report yesterday by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan and his Benue State counterpart, Mr. Gabriel Suswam, are also to feature at the forum.

The presence of the National Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, could not be confirmed despite the fact that he is one of those invited to the events.

The forum on the road map to Nigeria’s decisive 2015 elections is organised by the Centre for Strategic and International Studies, (CSIS), a non-for profit think-tank based in the US.

The CSIS has had two sessions on Nigeria this year as part of its efforts in consolidating democracy in Nigeria.

Last January, chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Attahiru Jega, was at the head of a policy forum on plans towards the 2015 elections.

A month ago, the majority of the country’s governors from the north were at another forum focused on addressing the state of insecurity fanned by the Islamic Boko Haram insurgency in the region.

An American think-tank raised indignation in Nigeria few years ago when it predicted that the country would disintegrate by 2015. That was before the rage of crisis inspired by Boko Haram.

The session, however, is directed at drawing assurances from policy makers in Nigeria and opposition leaders towards a common agenda that would ensure free and fair elections in 2015, which will be acceptable to all stakeholders.

Presidency, APC in Face-off in Washington over 2015 Elections

13 Northern governors seek help in Washington against Boko Haram

Thirteen governors of the North are in the United States searching for help against the Boko Haram insurgency.

Northern governors in WashingtonThey met yesterday for eight hours at the United States Peace Institute and the State Department in Washington DC. with U.S. government officials and representatives of Norway and Denmark.

Details of the first round of the closed-door meeting, which was sponsored by the U.S. government in collaboration with the governments of Norway and Denmark, could not be obtained last night.

The meetings are expected to continue till tomorrow.

The Peace Institute said the biggest issue discussed was how Nigeria could overcome the Boko Haram insurgency, especially through education and economic investments.

Other issues discussed included re-invigorating the U.S. attention on the north, economic investment opportunities in the region, security and challenges of private investments in the region.

The governors were reportedly given time to dialogue among themselves on the way out of Boko Haram.

Among the governors in attendance were Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Kashim Shetttima (Borno) and Murtala Nyako (Adamawa) (Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto), Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara), Saidu Dakingari (Kebbi), Isa Yuguda (Bauchi) and Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano). (0)

13 Northern governors seek help in Washington against Boko Haram