President Goodluck Jonathan on Sunday assured the world that he would ensure that the February general elections are “free, fair and credible” adding that “the May 29 handover date is sacrosanct.”

Jonathan, who spoke shortly after receiving the US Secretary of State, John Kerry, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja said the federal government will provide the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, with all the resources it needs to conduct the polls smoothly.

“I emphasised to Secretary Kerry that I am committed to ensuring that our forthcoming election is free, fair and credible,” Jonathan stated, adding, “I made it absolutely clear that the May 29^th handover date is sacrosanct.”

He played down the perceived rift between the two countries which culminated in Nigeria cancelling the last stage of US training for Nigerian soldiers in December, 2014.

The President expressed gratitude to the United States for supporting Nigeria in the war against terrorism and assured that the two countries would continue to work together to put an end to terrorism globally and in Nigeria.

Saying that it was important and necessary to defeat Boko Haram terrorists in Nigeria and other West African countries, Jonathan expressed the commitment to build the multi-national military task force set up by Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Benin Republic under the Lake Chad Commission.

He also observed that with America’s experience in fighting armed insurgency, Nigeria would continue to explore channels of cooperation between the two countries to enhance a coordinated strategy against local and global terrorist threats.

The US Secretary of State who met with both President Jonathan and the candidate of the main opposition All Progressive Congress, APC, Muhammadu Buhari, warned politicians in Nigeria to guide against violence after the forthcoming elections.

Speaking at the US Consulate’s residence in Lagos after meeting the two leaders, Kerry said that America and the rest of the world will closely watch the election, adding that “it’s absolutely critical that this election be conducted peacefully – that they are credible, transparent and accountable.”

Kerry also played down the diplomatic face-off between the two countries which led Nigeria to accuse the US government of not doing enough to help in fighting insurgents in the North east.

Kerry said that the United States was sharing intelligence with Nigeria and would do more if the elections in the country are successfully concluded.

The Secretary of State condemned the attacks by Boko Haram insurgents and expressed worry that the terrorist group, Islamic State, was making an in road into Africa even though he did not draw a link between the two groups

Even while he was in Nigerian, Boko Haram fighters attacked and tried to take over Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State but were successfully repelled by Nigerian troops.