A Town Hall Meeting held on The Rule of Law and Credible Elections, organised by the Nigerian Bar Association in conjunction with the Alliance for Credible Elections on the 20^th of December 2006 at the Arewa House Conference Hall, Kaduna. After thought-provoking presentations by the various speakers, the following were highlighted:

A Town Hall Meeting held on The Rule of Law and Credible Elections, organised by the Nigerian Bar Association in conjunction with the Alliance for Credible Elections on the 20^th of December 2006 at the Arewa House Conference Hall, Kaduna. After thought-provoking presentations by the various speakers, the following were highlighted:

1. That the voters’ registration or revalidation has failed as it has not captured the majority of the electorate and INEC has failed to provide the environment to register those who are willing;
2. The few machines available are restricted to the homes and premises of powerful individuals in the society;
3. The voters’ registration has tactically disenfranchised people in the society, so Section 10 of the Electoral Act 2006 needs to be amended.

The Association therefore insists:

1. that The Rule of Law begins with the registration exercise, and The Rule of Law must be observed if democracy will work in Nigeria;
2. The absolute supremacy of regular law over arbitrary power is most desired;
3. The Constitution is a consequence of the people’s rights and not the source of it.

• INEC should be actually independent as a body and not tied to the apron strings of the Executive;
• The police should be neutral and not support the ruling party;
• The Judiciary, which is the hope of the common man, should live up to expectations.

The Town Hall meeting therefore resolved that all civil society groups must team up to do the following:

1. Train the general public on non-violent defence of their mandate;
2. Sensitise the people on monitoring the elections at the various polling centres
3. Ensure full and active participation of the NBA branches all over the country in the electoral processes.

E.Y. Kurah, Esq, Chairman NBA Kaduna Emma Ezeazu, ACE-Nigeria Gen Sec