The Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Chimaroke Nnamani gave the advice through his Deputy, Chief Okechukwu Itanyi, during the INEC-Civil Society Conference on 2007 Elections held at Protea Hotel Nike Lake Resort, Enugu.

"We all want 2007 general elections to be successful as the world and Africa are looking up to us to have an acceptable election because what happens in Nigeria must definitely affect other regions of Africa," Dr. Nnamani stated.

Governor Nnamani commended the INEC for holding credible elections in the past and said that Nigerians were looking forward to elections that were not compromised, and where franchise was not denied anyone.

The Governor appreciated the fact that INEC was holding the vital stakeholders' conference in Enugu, which he described as the cradle of democracy in Nigeria. According to him, this was so because Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Mr. M.I. Okpara, Dr. Akanu Ibiam among others started their political careers in Enugu.

The Governor also said that the INEC Chairman, Dr. Maurice Iwu, had a passion for holding credible elections and enjoined all to collaborate with him to achieve success in this all important national assignment.

In his speech, the INEC Chairman, Professor Maurice Iwu, stated that his main aim was to conduct an election that was devoid of the woes of the past, which would also be acceptable to all Nigerians.

He therefore called for a mutual understanding and cooperation among INEC, Civil Society groups and development partners to realize this objective.

Professor Iwu also stated that the main cause of election failure was the enviromnent surrounding the election, pointing out that unless the rules were changed, Nigerians would continue to have a repeat of those failures.

He said that while Nigerians should not trade on the blame game, they should have self-serving interests as they all suffred the consequences of electoral failures. Prof. Iwu further remarked that it would be better to embark on reforms because people were hard to change, adding that those who benefit from the decadence were ever opposed to change.

The INEC boss said that Nigerians might not have credible elections without reforms that would stop the pervasive influence of money politics, electoral violence and observance of zero tolerance, as well as gender parity where qualified female candidates were given chances to contest elections.

Professor Iwu stated that INEC had been pursuing those lofty goals silently and urged individuals to participate actively in the next year's general election.

He also announced that a new format of voters registration exercise which would make registration of mass movement of people unnecessary, would begin in two weeks time.

He promised that the 2007 election will be the most credible election Nigerians will have and urged the civil society which is at the nerve of the polity not to be hijacked by money bags.

Professor Iwu also stated that Youth Corpers will be used for voters registration exercise and 2007 election and said that Nigeria has the best electoral laws and body even more than some developed countries.

Highlight of the event was the privileged voter registration of Chief Okechukwu Itanyi. This was done with an Information Technology Based Direct Data Capture Machine. An INEC source however said that with the device the days of double registration, dual voting and impersonation were now over.