The full resources of the Nigerian military and police will be used to ensure the country’s forthcoming general elections will be free and fair, the government told the Independent National Electoral Committee, whose members include the Primate of All-Nigeria, Archbishop Nicholas Okoh. On 7 March 2015 the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshall Alex Badeh and the Inspector General of Police, Suleiman Abba, told the committee whose members include the leaders of the country’s Anglican and Catholic churches and the Sultan of Sokoto, the leader of Nigeria’s Muslims the situation in the north was now under control. Attacks by the Islamist terror group, Boko Haram had prompted the Elections Committee to postpone the general elections by six weeks to 28 March 2015. Committee member Justice Rose Ukeje noted: “they said that there is no fear and there will be a violence free and credible election and also that there is no fear of a further adjournment of the election because there is no room for that in the constitution.” Speaking to reporters at the Cathedral Church of the Advent in Abuja, Archbishop Okoh warned the threat to peace did not stem only from Boko Haram. He urged political leaders to restrain their supporters from turning their political passions into political violence. “This is the period to work for integrity. So, Christians should pray for Nigeria so that people will not get into bloodshed during and after the elections,” he said, adding: “Nigerians are good people and these elections are for Nigerians and not politicians only.’’
