The chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega, on Thursday, held a  meeting with the Police High Command, at the Police Headquarters, Abuja, and sought the cooperation and commitment of the Nigeria Police to ensure free and fair elections in 2011.

However, the Inspector General of Police, Mr Ogbonna Onovo, asked the INEC chairman to clarify the role of the electorate after casting their votes at the polling booth, and state clearly whether the voters should stay behind to protect their votes after voting.

Professor Jega, who arrived at the Force Headquarters around 10a.m., first held a closed door meeting with the Inspector-General and the deputy inspector generals before a larger meeting which involved all the state commissioners of police, who had also come to Abuja for their monthly Commissioners of Police conference.

He tasked the police on the need to ensure a free and fair general election, adding that both INEC and the Nigeria Police “have a pact to ensure free and fair election where every vote counts.”

Professor Jega said that the commission had a huge responsibility in conducting the election which it could not achieve  if the police did not perform its role and provide a secure environment for the electorate.

He told Mr Onovo and his men that though he was coming to meet them for the first time, there would be more of some meetings as the nation moved into the crucial stage of the election.

The INEC boss said: “We had a very fruitful meeting with the IG and the High Command of the Police. It is our first meeting but we would hold a series of meeting henceforth. It is to express our willingness to continue to work together in harmony and with a sense of purpose to bring about free and fair election. Before now, the relationship between INEC and the police had been smooth.

“The 2011 election is a sacred responsibility and, therefore, we must work in partnership and cooperation and ensure that we don’t abuse the trust in us. I restated the commitment of the newly appointed commissioners and myself to do our best to bring about free and fair elections in this country.

“We will work fully; we will cooperate fully with the Nigeria Police, both at the headquarters and states of the federation.”

He further told them that the state electoral commissioners had also been appointed, and stressed the need to redouble their efforts to ensure they perform at highest level and better than before.
Professor Jega said the major task before the commission now was to embark on fresh voters’ registration, saying that the existing voters’ register “is certainly not a good basis for conducting a free and fair election.”

He pointed out that in spite of the short time, the commission would give Nigeria new voters’ register, which might not be 100 per cent perfect, but would be good for a free and fair election.