2015 Polls: Nigeria, Canada Partner For Credible Elections

The Canadian government has said it is set to
partner with the Nigerian government to promote credible elections ahead of
Nigeria’s 2015 elections.

Mr. Jean-Paul Ruszkowski, President, Parliamentary
Centre, Canada, said this at a press briefing in Abuja on Monday after a
roundtable with leaders of major political parties.

Ruszkowski said that the aim of the meeting with leaders
of major political parties was to work out modalities on how to set up a
Canadian Parliamentary Centre that would enhance Nigeria’s electoral process.

“The purpose of the visit is to learn about how Nigeria
is progressing in its democratic practices; how the federal system in Nigeria
works.

“And through that process explore, with the help of the
party leaders, to understand the priorities; what will bring all parties
together to conduct a project that will be of use to Nigeria.

“Be it in the field of
budgetary oversight, in the field of public accounts, security or
natural resources or whatever sector is identified by the parliamentarians as
high priority.

“We have been to several countries over the years, so we
are in the position to help.

“We are just starting the conversation and the whole
idea is to build confidence between the citizens and governments and political
parties so when the elections come there will be no doubt about how
representative the election will be.’’

Ruszkowski added that the Canadian Parliamentary Centre
worked with legislatures of 31 African countries to “help them better serve
their people”.

Also speaking, Sen. Ben Obi, Presidential Adviser,
Inter-Party Affairs, said several meetings with legislative leaders, INEC and
the Canadian Parliamentary Centre would be held.

Obi added that the meetings would map out strategies on
improving Nigeria’s electoral process.

The Tide gather that he (Ruszkowski) may have held
meeting with the Senate President, the Speaker and some leaders of the National
Assembly; and as well as the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

To round off the visit, he would have also had meeting
with Prof. Attahiru Jega all on how to further improve the electoral process of
our country.

“We’ve had a robust discussion with our leaders here on how to build formidable internal democracy in our parties and how the parties can work hand-in-gloves with legislators in the National Assembly to make democracy more at home with us.

“Our aim is to have the Canadian Parliamentary Centre
established here in Nigeria and because they have been functional in 31 African
countries and Nigeria is not there yet. “So we intend that this visit is the
beginning of how that centre can be established here in due course.’’

Sen. Obi added that Nigeria’s participation in the
Canadian Parliamentary Centre would enhance capacity building of
parliamentarians.

He said that through the setting up of the centre,
Nigeria would enjoy better inter-party cooperation.

“I believe that parties must work together; they must
interact and share ideas so it is not every time that they are on the pages of
the newspapers attacking one another,” he said.