The United Nations Development Program, UNDP, has warned that Nigeria could lose its leadership role in West Africa if the 2015 general elections is marred with violence.
The Country Director of the UNDP in Nigeria, Mr Daouda Toure, said that the peaceful conduct of elections in Nigeria is important for it to be able to intervene and be respected in other West African countries.
Mr Daouda spoke at a forum of electoral stakeholders, organised by the Independent National Electoral Commission in Abuja, on the importance of conducting peaceful general elections in 2015.
While the Independent National Electoral Commission said that it was ready for the polls, participants at the event expressed the view that some challenges, including conducts of politicians, could threaten peaceful elections.
Nigeria would go to the polls in 2015 along with other ECOWAS countries like Cote d‘ ivoire, Togo, Burkina Faso and Guinea.
Among these countries, Nigeria is in the watch of international communities, as its leadership role is important in the West African sub-region.
It is generally believed that having a free, fair and peaceful election in 2015 depends on INEC, the electorates and how the politicians conduct themselves.
