As Nigerians go to the polls today, there were indications last night that the United States, the United Kingdom and most foreign embassies have opened desks to monitor the general election.

Also, most of the embassies have deployed observers for the election as part of over 400 domestic and international observer groups.

But the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday said that it was working with security agencies to track deployment of ballot papers and other materials.

The commission said it was ready for the polls and that there was no cause for alarm.

A top diplomat, who spoke in confidence, said:　 "From the US to all of us, we are deeply interested in the general election because you have not got it right since 1993 when you last had the freest poll in the history of your country.

"If Nigeria could lead the vanguard of protecting the sanctity of the ballot in Cote D’Ivoire, we want to see how far you can be a model for others.

"We have opened desks for situation report from different observer groups to guide our opinion on the poll. We believe that if Nigeria gets it right, it will inspire other African countries.

"Most of the embassies have also deployed observers to get first hand information on the poll. We want to measure the electoral process in line with what your President has promised the international community."

The Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Johnnie Carson, had on Wednesday in Washington DC said: "Our government will not turn a blind eye to a repeat of the political violence and wholesale electoral theft that took place in 2007.

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