BY Tony Edike
THE forthcoming general elections in Nigeria are of great concern and interest to the international community.

Vernice Guttrie, a representative of Democratic Governance for Development, DGD, and the United Nations Development Programme, UNDP, made this known during a one-day workshop on Voters’ Education and Election Law, organized by Poverty in Africa Alternative, POVINAA, in Enugu.

According to her, the elections are crucial and Nigeria must get it right because Nigeria is not only the most populous country in Africa but also one of the greatest that the rest of Africa look up to.

She said the whole world was looking towards the forthcoming elections with expectations of positive changes as Nigeria and its people were  strategic in the world, especially in African affairs.

In his remarks,  Executive Director of  POVINAA, Mr. Nebechi Ugwuozor, explained that the objectives of the workshop include increasing the participation of the South East geo-political zone in the 2011 elections through voter education.

Other objectives of the workshop, Ugwuozor explained, are to educate the election stakeholders and community-based organisations on current changes in the amended constitution regarding the electoral laws for 2011 elections and to demonstrate through organising a mock election on how to properly vote on election  day.

Ugwuozor underlined the importance of selecting suitable leaders and representatives into the various tiers of government within the framework of an acceptable democratic setting.

According to the executive director, elections, when properly carried out and suitable leaders are selected, will pave way for good governance and attendant enablement of members of the society to achieve higher standards of living.