NIGERIA (Abuja)-President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has assured Nigerians that the 2015 general election will be better than the last one held in 2011.

Jonathan, who made this known during a reception for the diplomatic corps in Nigeria, urged the international bodies to support the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in achieving this giant aim.

The President also used the reception held at the lawn of the Presidential Villa in Abuja, to intimate the diplomats on preparations towards the 2015 general elections and to assure them on his determination to set a benchmark for free and fair elections.

“The general elections will take place early next year but the processes that will lead to the elections will commence this year. Parties will select their candidates through primaries this year, campaigns will commence this year, so this year will be full of activities. And I know that there is some apprehension with the elections.

“Let me reassure you that the general election that will come up next year will be better than the elections you witnessed in 2011. As we progress into the year, some of these tensions will come down.

“At the beginning of the electoral processes in most countries, especially developing nations, tensions use to be quite high even in developed countries. That is what we are witnessing now, but all these will come down. We will make sure that we maintain peace and security and that elections are conducted in the manner that will be seen as free and fair by everybody.

 “I am placing before you to communicate to your organisations and countries that we still need your assistance to make sure that the INEC conducts elections that are even better than the ones they did in 2011.”

He also spoke regarding global terrorism and advised that adequate measures should be put in place to checkmate terrorism all over the world.