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Nigeria: Election Monitoring, 1
Nigeria: Election Monitoring, 1
Date distributed (ymd): 990218
Document reposted by APIC
+++++++++++++++++++++Document Profile+++++++++++++++++++++
Region: West Africa
Issue Areas: +political/rights+
Summary Contents:
This posting contains a brief update from the Africa Fund and
announcements from several of the many monitoring teams that
will be observing the Nigerian presidential elections on
February 27. The next posting oontains an interim report from
the Transition Monitoring Group in Nigeria on the state-level
elections in January. For a convenient timetable of the
election process and a summary of results, see the Nigerian
Drum Messenger web site (http://members.xoom.com/NDmessenger).
For additional news updates see Africa News
(http://www.africanews.org/west/nigeria). Web sites of the
two presidential candidates are, for PDP candidate Gen.
Olusegun Obasanjo (rtd) (http://www.obasanjo-campaign.com.ng)
and, for AD/APP candidate Chief Olu Falae
(>http://www.falae.org - page no longer available 10/99 -).
+++++++++++++++++end profile++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The Africa Fund
50 Broad Street, Suite 711,
New York, NY 10004
Tel: (212) 785-1024 Fax: (212) 785-1078
E-mail: Africafund@igc.org
Web Site: www.prairienet.org/acas/afund.html
Nigeria Transition Watch
Report Number 2
January 27, 1999
Oil Fields Crisis Mars Second Round of Voting Forcing
Postponement of Governors Elections in Two States
The deepening political crisis in the oil-rich Niger River
Delta marred the second round of elections in Nigeria's
step-by-step transition from military to civilian government
on January 9. In the wake of the shooting deaths of as many as
60 unarmed environmental protesters in Bayelsa State by troops
in late December and early January, the Independent National
Election Commission (INEC) postponed gubernatorial elections
in the state and ordered new elections in Rivers State,
another tense oil producing region.
Hundreds of people were wounded in the confrontations and
human rights monitors report that harassment of environmental
and community activists demanding an end to poverty and
pollution in the Delta is continuing. In one incident on
December 30, troops shot and bayoneted to death three youthful
members of the minority Ijaw people at a peaceful
demonstration to demand the withdrawal of foreign oil
companies from the area. The troops then broke into nearby
houses and shops and assaulted and arrested the terrified
occupants. Although a state of emergency in the state was
lifted in early January, a ban on protests and public
gatherings remains in effect.
Protests and Repression Increase But Polls Proceed
The killings and the deployment of thousands of soldiers and
police in the area were intended to end months of occupations
of oil production facilities by youthful members of the
minority Ijaw people, whose traditional lands account for some
70 percent of Nigeria's annual oil production. The
occupations began in the summer of 1998 and have reduced
Nigerian oil output by fully a third. The occupations and the
sharp fall in oil prices over the past year have caused a
major financial crunch for the Abubakar government and
reportedly sparked demands from the major Western oil
companies for tough government action to end the protests and
restore full production.
Clashes between protesters and security forces erupted in
other parts of Nigeria in January as well. In Lagos five
people were shot and killed by troops at a demonstration
against sharp rises in fuel prices ordered by the government.
In Lagos and other parts of the country soldiers attacked
civil servants protesting the withdrawal of a promised pay
increase, arresting and assaulting dozens more.
Nigerian political observers comment that the increasing
protests and violent government responses, coming even as the
army adheres to its transition timetable, reflect the
limitations of the transition exercise and the disconnect
between the formal political process and the urgent economic
and social problems confronting the country. To date none of
the parties has issued an election platform, a political
manifesto, or even named a Presidential candidate -- making it
impossible to make policy distinctions among parties and
reducing the election to a contest of personalities. Human
rights monitors note that the Abubakar government has refused
to repeal such repressive measures as Decree 2, which allows
for indefinite detention without charge or trial, and other
decrees that remove government decisions from judicial
scrutiny. They fear that the incoming government will be more
beholden to the army than to the electorate and thus unable to
enact the sweeping changes needed to address the economic
crisis, end corruption and restore a sense of nationhood among
Nigeria's brutalized and badly divided citizens.
Innocent Chukwuma, a leading human rights activist and member
of the non-governmental Transition Monitoring Group, told
Transition Watch that, "the transition comes down from the
military and is not democratic. The government that results
will not be the beginning of democracy, but the last act of
the dictatorship. Our hope is that the new government will
then commit itself to a genuinely democratic transition
program that engages and empowers the people and to elections
free of military manipulation. Only then can we speak of
democracy in Nigeria."
Military-Linked Party Emerges as Frontrunner
Against this backdrop, gubernatorial elections proceeded on
schedule on January 9 in the other states. The People's
Democratic Party (PDP), the frontrunner in local government
elections in December, consolidated its hold on the lead by
winning 20 of the 35 contested governorships. The All People's
Party (APP) came in second with 9 while the Alliance for
Democracy (AD) took six states.
Since its launch last Fall, the PDP has emerged as the clear
favorite of the army, with over 100 retired senior military
officers in its ranks and a much larger campaign war chest
than its rivals. The party's likely Presidential nominee,
former head of state General Olesegun Obasanjo, enjoys close
ties to the Nigerian army and to former dictator Ibrahim
Babangida. Although Obasanjo is widely respected in the United
States and Europe, he is less popular in his nominal ethnic
base among the Yoruba people -- losing the election for a
local council seat in his home village in December.
Turnout in the state elections remained disturbingly low, with
only between 20 -30 percent of registered voters
participating. The low turnout, monitors say, is another
indication of the absence of popular support for the current
transition. The TMG report on the second round of elections
follows [in the next posting].
Distributed by The Africa Fund 50 Broad Street, Suite 711 New
York, NY 10004 (212) 785-1024 fax: (212) 785-1078 E-mail:
Africafund@igc.org
The Africa Fund
Africa Fund Announces Establishment of Leadership Commission
To Monitor Nigerian Elections, Desmond Tutu to Chair
Contact: Mike Fleshman (212) 785-1024
February 1, 1999
The New York-based Africa Fund announced today the
establishment of a U.S. Leadership Commission on the Nigerian
Transition. The Commission, comprised of prominent U.S. civil
and human rights, religious and trade union leaders, will
monitor the ongoing transition from military dictatorship to
civilian government in Nigeria and work to ensure that the
process is free and fair. South African Archbishop Desmond
Tutu, the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize and chair of South
Africa's Truth and Reconciliation Commission investigation
into apartheid-era human rights abuses, has agreed to serve as
the honorary Chair of the Leadership Commission.
Nigeria began its third attempt in 14 years to move from
military to civilian rule this summer following the sudden
deaths of both Nigerian dictator General Sani Abacha and the
unjustly imprisoned President-elect Moshood Abiola. Abiola won
a free and fair Presidential election in 1993 only to see the
army annul the vote and install General Abacha in power.
Abiola was later arrested and held without trial for refusing
to surrender his mandate, dying in prison in July 1998.
Decades of brutal and increasingly corrupt military domination
have impoverished the oil rich west African nation of 100
million and exacerbated ethnic, religious and sectional
divisions.
The Commission's membership includes Julian Bond, Chair of the
NAACP; Reverend Joan Campbell, Secretary General of the
National Council of Churches; Congressional Representatives
Maxine Waters and Donald Payne; Rabbi David Saperstein of the
Union of American Hebrew Congregations; Bernice
Powell-Jackson, the head of the United Church of Christ's
Commission on Racial Justice; Rev. Dr. Bennett W. Smith, past
President of the Progressive National Baptist Convention;
former New York City Mayor David N. Dinkins; International
Human Rights Law Group Director Gay McDougall, and Robert
Wages, Executive Vice President of the Paper,
Allied-Industrial, Chemical and Energy Workers International
Union (PACE). The Commission is working closely with the
non-governmental Nigerian Transition Monitoring Group (TMG),
a coalition of over 50 indigenous human rights and
pro-democracy groups.
"Too often in the past the generals have promised to restore
democracy only to deliver more dictatorship," said Africa Fund
Executive Director Jennifer Davis. "The purpose of the
Commission is to help ensure that this time the army follows
through on its promise to withdraw from power and that the
transition itself is credible and fair. "
"We are enormously grateful to the Commissioners for agreeing
to join in this initiative. The Commission sends a clear
message of American public support for the return of
democracy. That message is important because the U.S. buys
nearly half of the annual oil exports that Nigeria's military
rulers depend on. That influence should be used to promote and
protect the human and civil rights of the Nigerian people."
The transition formally began in December 1998 with the first
of four elections for local and state offices leading to
presidential elections on February 27, with installation of
the civilian government scheduled for May 29. Nigerian human
rights groups have called the transition blueprint
undemocratic, noting that it was imposed by the military
without consultation with democracy leaders and that the
government of General Abdulsalami Abubakar has refused to
repeal such repressive legislation as Decree Number Two,
allowing for the indefinite detention without charge or trial
of political opponents.
A deepening crisis in the oil producing Niger River Delta
region of southern Nigeria forced postponement of elections
for state legislatures and governors in January, following the
shooting deaths of as many as 50 people protesting
environmental pollution, economic exploitation and political
marginalization. Occupations of oil production facilities in
the region, while largely peaceful, have cut Nigeria's daily
oil output by a third in recent months, fueling fears of
massive state violence against protesters to restore full
production. Nigerian human rights activists fear that a
generalized conflict in the Niger Delta over oil could be used
by hardline generals to abort the transition and prolong
military rule.
The commission is made possible by a generous grant from the
John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.
ends
International Foundation for Election Systems
African Delegation to Observe National Elections in Nigeria
February 16, 1999
ABUJA, NIGERIA - The following document was released by the
International Foundation for Election Systems: In response to
Nigeria's invitation to international election observers, a
12-person delegation from the Association of African Election
Authorities (AAEA) and the International Foundation for
Election Systems (IFES) will arrive in Nigeria today to
observe the nation's National Assembly elections on February
20.
A 28-member AAEA/IFES delegation will also observe the
February 27 presidential election. The AAEA is a membership
organization of election administrators and representatives of
non-governmental organizations (NGO) from sub-Saharan Africa,
dedicated to the professionalization of election
administration. IFES, a Washington, DC-based NGO, provides
nonpartisan assistance to develop or refine election systems
in emerging and established democracies around the world. The
AAEA and IFES also observed the local government and
state-level elections in December and January in Nigeria.
"As African election officials and election experts with vast,
practical experience in the administration of elections, the
AAEA/IFES delegation is unique," noted Dr. K. Afari-Gyan,
Executive Secretary of the AAEA and Chairman of the Electoral
Commission of Ghana. He added, "Our sustained involvement in
Nigeria demonstrates a long-term commitment to supporting
transparent and credible elections in Nigeria."
Led by Dr. K. Afari-Gyan, delegates on the AAEA/IFES mission
to the February 20 elections include the following AAEA
members:
- Benin: Francis Oke, Consultant, GERDDES-Benin
- Ghana: Angela Neeguaye, Electoral Commission
- Liberia: Paul N. Guah, Chairman, Elections Commission
- Uganda: Flora Nkurukenda, Deputy Chairperson, Electoral
Commission; Lino Musana, Electoral Commission
- Zimbabwe: Mabel Sikhosana, Deputy Director, ZimRights
Also participating in the mission are the following IFES
representatives: Simon Clarke, Program Manager/Nigeria;
Kendall Dwyer, Projects Coordinator/Nigeria; Susan Palmer,
Program Officer, IFES/Washington; Valeria Scott, Program
Assistant, IFES/Washington; and Caroline Vuillemin, Program
Assistant, IFES/Washington.
Additional AAEA members and IFES representatives will join the
delegation for the presidential election on February 27.
AAEA/IFES observers of the February 27 elections will include
additional election officials such as Samuel Kivuitu, Chairman
of the Election Commission of Kenya, and Cheikh Gueye,
Director-General of Elections in Senegal.
IFES will maintain its presence in Nigeria after the February
elections to continue to monitor the ongoing electoral process
and the transition to the elected government. IFES and AAEA
activities in Nigeria are supported by the U.S. Agency for
International Development. Further information on AAEA and
IFES activities in Nigeria, as well as information on the
Nigerian elections, can be found on the IFES website at
www.ifes.org.
CONTACT: Torie Keller/Washington, +1-202-828-8507 Susan
Palmer/Abuja, +234-9-523-1811 x164 Susan Palmer/Lagos,
+234-1-497-8661 x140; IFES 1101 15th Street, NW Suite 300
Washington, DC USA +1-202-828-8507 phone +1-202-452-0804
facsimile torie@ifes.org
The Carter Center
Carter Center-NDI Announce Election Observation Delegation
February 16, 1999
Atlanta - The following document was released by The Carter
Center: Former U.S. President and Mrs. Jimmy Carter will be
joined by General Colin Powell and former Niger President
Mahamane Ousmane as co-leaders of a 60-member international
delegation to be deployed by The
Carter Center and the National Democratic Institute for
International Affairs (NDI) to the Feb. 27 presidential
election in Nigeria. The delegation will include political
leaders, election experts, and regional specialists from 10
countries in Africa, Asia, and North America. The Carter
Center and NDI have had staff stationed in Nigeria since early
December to observe all phases of the electoral process.
Earlier delegations were deployed to local elections in
December and state elections in January. A 15-person
delegation to the Feb. 20 National Assembly election begins
arriving in Lagos tomorrow.
"We are honored that the Independent National Electoral
Commission and the major parties invited us to participate in
this crucial moment in Nigeria's history," said President
Carter. "We are here to support and strengthen Nigerians'
desire for democracy, evaluate the electoral process, and
learn from it. While we hope our presence will reinforce the
process, it is the Nigerian people who will judge the meaning
of the elections and the success of this transition."
Carter Center-NDI observers to the presidential election will
deploy from Lagos to 24 states in Nigeria beginning Thursday,
Feb. 25, to meet with local election officials and party
representatives the day before voting commences. On election
day, delegates will visit as many polling sites as possible in
their areas to witness poll openings, voter accreditation,
voting, vote counting, and ballot box delivery, as well as to
talk with citizens and officials about the electoral process.
After the election, observers will reconvene in Abuja to
discuss their findings and issue a preliminary statement.
"This election is a critical step in the transition to
civilian rule. We are hopeful that Nigerians will have
confidence in the process and that they will turn out to vote
in large numbers on election day," said General Powell, former
chair of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff.
EDITORS NOTE FOR PLANNING PURPOSES: A detailed advisory of
opportunities for media to cover the Carter Center-NDI
observer mission will be issued by Wednesday, Feb. 24.
These opportunities are expected to include: an arrival
statement by President Carter and President Ousmane on
Thursday, Feb. 25, at the Abuja Hilton; a photo opportunity
with delegation leaders at a polling site in Abuja on election
day, Saturday, Feb. 27; and a press conference to issue the
delegation's findings, tentatively scheduled for Monday, March
1, at the Abuja Hilton. All media participating in Carter
Center-NDI press opportunities will be required to have press
credentials recognized by the Independent National Electoral
Commission.
Contact: Deanna Congileo Carter Center in Atlanta 404-420-5108
In Abuja, Robert LaGamma, Sheraton Abuja 234-9-523-0225 Room
334 In Lagos, Shari Bryan, Sheraton Lagos 234-1-497-8660 Room
530
This material is being reposted for wider distribution by the
Africa Policy Information Center (APIC). APIC's primary
objective is to widen the policy debate in the United States
around African issues and the U.S. role in Africa, by
concentrating on providing accessible policy-relevant
information and analysis usable by a wide range of groups and
individuals.
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