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Nigeria’s President
and Chairman of ECOWAS, Goodluck Jonathan, has called on the two
candidates in the run-off presidential election in Cote d Ivoire,
President Laurent Gbagbo and Alassane Ouatara, as well as their
supporters, to avoid inflammatory remarks that could instigate
violence, by allowing the will of the Ivorian people prevail through
their votes.

In a statement
issued yesterday on the presidential run-off which took place on
Sunday, Mr Jonathan noted that the “assessment of both local and
international observers indicating the peaceful conduct of the run-off
election so far has been encouraging.”

He urged the two
candidates to “tone down their rhetoric and maintain the peace at this
very critical stage,” before the final results are announced. The
president also urged both contestants to “subject themselves to the
will of the Ivorian people by allowing the votes to be counted in a
peaceful and orderly manner.”

Mr Jonathan said it is imperative that the supreme interest of the
people of Cote d’Ivoire, who have borne the brunt of hardship these
past years, be allowed to prevail at the polls, adding that Nigeria and
the entire member-states of ECOWAS are following the situation in Cote
d Ivoire with keen interest. “We stand ready to continue to render all
necessary support to promote peace, democracy and stability in the
country,” he said.