In its efforts to fine tune preparations for the general elections in April this year, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is to have its First Assessment Protocol on March 15^th 2007. 

Thereafter, and coming hot on the heels of the Assessment Protocol will be a Final Readiness Assurance Protocol billed for April 1^st 2007. 

Speaking at a two-day seminar for Election Petition Tribunal Judges at the FCT New High Court Complex  a stone’s throw from the INEC headquarters, INEC Chairman, Professor Iwu expressed confidence that preparations for the 2007 polls were on course. 

He told the judges that INEC was compiling a list of all candidates which will be published on or before March 8^th this year. Professor Iwu also said the photographs of all governorship and presidential candidates will be published before the elections by the Commission. 

The INEC Chairman said each state will be different in colour and layout. The idea, he explained, is to prevent those who want to have their own version of the ballot papers from doing so. 

In addition to these measures, Professor Iwu explained to the judges that results will be tabulated at polling units, be officially certified and be made available to security and party agents who will duly sign them before they are instantaneously transmitted to collating centres for onward announcement. These measures he explained was to check the likelihood of agents parading conflicting figures.