Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has said the re-election of President, Barack Obama has confirmed America as the most enduring democracy in the world.
He described the fresh mandate given to Obama by the American electorate in Tuesday’s presidential poll as well-deserved and reward for hard work by the first Black President in the nation’s history.
The governor said the US poll is a challenge to all stakeholders in the Nigerian electoral system on how to organize credible, transparent, free and fair elections.
He noted that incumbent political office holders in Nigeria will be saved the distraction of post-election litigations if elections are free and fair and seen to be so.
Fayemi urged Nigerian politicians and electorate to allow lessons learnt from the American election to reflect in their conduct in a bid to deepen democracy in the country.
He said, “We should imbibe the lessons from the presidential election in the United States and allow these lessons to reflect in our lives as we hope for a more transparent electoral process.
“There was no report of manipulation of voters’ register, militarization of electoral process, delay of electoral materials and prevention of voters from exercising their rights.
“The candidates who contested the election never used abusive language nor assassinated the character of one another.
“The loser congratulated the winner because the election was not only free and fair but was seen to be free and fair.
“We urge the stakeholders in the Nigerian electoral system to tighten the loose ends that are making the conduct of free, fair and credible polls difficult in Nigeria to deepen our democracy”
Last modified: November 9, 2012