The Enugu State Government is prepared to collaborate with interested groups and organizations to ensure free, fair, and non-violent elections during the April polls.

The state governor, Chimaroke Nnamani, gave the assurance when he received in audience members of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) fact-finding mission to Nigeria for the forthcoming general elections led by the former Gambian President, Sir Dr. Dauda Jawara.

"We promise and we assure you that we will collaborate with all organizations, all bodies, all brothers who are interested in democracy" he said.

Governor Nnamani, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Dan Shere, described their visit to Enugu as very important and historical going by the fact that the state had played a major role in the history of the nation.

The governor described Enugu as a model state in the reform process of the Obasanjo administration, adding that democracy is alive and well in the state. According to him, "Enugu is a model state in the reform process of this country, a state that has been able to touch on the lives of its people through the provision of democracy dividends. Democracy has really delivered in Enugu." the Governor said.

The State Chief Executive stated that already the process of election had stared in the state with the registration of voters, adding that his government had made every effort to ensure that all eligible voters in the state was registered for the forthcoming elections.

According to him, "we have started the process of election through the registration of voters. We have been able to cooperate with INEC to mobilize our people to get registered which is actually the first process of the electioneering and elections".

He said that the interest of his government right from inception goes beyond winning election but to make a positive impact on the lives of the people and change the society.

The governor then thanked the leader of the mission Sir Jawara for his invaluable contributions to his country, Nigeria and African Sub-Region.

In his speech Sir (Dr.) Jawara told the governor that the ECOWAS team was in Enugu as part of its fact finding mission to some states in Nigeria to ascertain the level of preparedness of all stakeholders towards ensuring credible election in April.

The former Gambia President stated that the decision to send the mission to Nigeria was because of her strategic position in Africa and the importance the organization attached to the outcome of the election.

He explained that while in Nigeria, they would collate views and opinions of all the stakeholders in the forthcoming general elections and report same back to the ECOWAS President so that the body could make reasonable input towards a free and fair election come April 2007.

According to former President Jawara, "the team has held series of consultations with major stakeholders in Kano, Kaduna, Abuja and Enugu so far”, and noted with satisfaction, the outcome of their interaction.

In his words, "we have come here to discuss with stakeholders in this great enterprise in Nigeria and since we arrived, some two weeks ago, we had meetings, discussions and exchange of views with stakeholders represented by the Executive, the President himself, some Ministers, legislators... we met INEC in Abuja and in the states we visited and some political parties..."

President Jawara, who had earlier met with INEC in Enugu thanked the state government for the reception and hospitality given to him and his team since their arrival in Enugu.