Ahead of Saturday’s governorship election in Ekiti State, the British government Monday advised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and political parties to ensure that the exercise was free, fair and credible.

The British intervention came through its High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Paul Arkwright, who spoke to journalists in Abuja shortly after meeting with the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Adams Oshiomhole.

His host, Oshiomhole, who also spoke during the visit, expressed his party’s preference for the deployment of the military in the state during the election to help check violence and assure voters of their safety.

The British High Commissioner said that his country was interested in seeing that the people of Ekiti State were allowed to freely express their opinion, to vote in line with their conscience.

He said Britain was interested in Nigeria’s democracy, adding that the UK Mission would send observers for the election, to ensure it was free and fair.

“The British High Commission will be sending a team there to observe the election and to ensure that they go smoothly; to ensure that INEC can do its job; that the security forces do their job and basically to ensure that the people of Ekiti State are allowed to freely express their opinion, to vote along with their conscience and to be able to do so in a peaceful manner,” Arkwright said.

Commenting on the move by the Nigerian Police Force to deploy about 30,000 officers with additional 19,000 men by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Oshiomhole said no one should lose sleep, since the security forces would only be in Ekiti to maintain peace.

•Text excerpted from THISDAY

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