April Elections: State Security Service, SSS, Political Parties Sign Pact

Mr. Ita Ekpenyong, DG SSS
The State Security Service, SSS and all the registered political parties in Nigeria have entered into a pact aimed at ensuring that the country remains an indivisible unit before and after the April 2011 general elections.

The pact, an initiative of the SSS is coming on the heels of an allegation that a Northern group agitating for a Northern presidency is planning to cause some unrest ahead of the April elections.

In a communiqué issued at the end of the interactive session between the Director General of the SSS, Mr. Ita Ekpenyong and Chairmen of Political Parties today, the following were resolved:

1.That the April 2011 elections must be free and fair;

2. That true federalism should be allowed to thrive;

3.That INEC and security agencies must ensure transparency in the conduct of their officials during April, 2011 elections;

4. That there should be no indiscriminate arrests of politicians and all allegations of misconduct must be thoroughly investigated;

5. That the judiciary must be impartial and function as the last hope of the common man;

6. That the media should avoid sensationalism and alarmist reporting;

7. That politicians must eschew bitterness in politics and be tolerant of each other;

8. That the security agencies should work with inter-party advisory council comprising all registered political parties to addresses all security issues more regularly;

9. That all political parties will work collectively towards ensuring that Nigeria remains one united and indivisible country despite our political, religious and cultural differences