In a bid to effectively monitor the conduct of next year’s general
elections, the International Republican Institute, IRI, and the National
Democratic Institute, NDI, are deploying a joint Pre-Election
Assessment Mission, PEAM, to assess preparations ahead of the elections,
scheduled for February 2019.
The statement issued by the groups in Abuja, said, the high-level
delegation will visit Nigeria from July 12-20, 2018. Members of the
delegation will meet with the Independent National Electoral Commission,
INEC, political parties, civil society organizations and other
stakeholders in Abuja to assess election preparations and explore ways
of fostering peaceful and credible polls in the country.
“The delegation
will also watch the voting process during the July 14 Ekiti state
gubernatorial election. The PEAM will be led by Dr. Pauline Baker,
president emeritus of The Fund for Peace (USA).
“Nigeria’s 2015 general elections were widely hailed as a positive
step in the country’s democratic development,” said Dr. Baker. “Another
set of credible polls in 2019 would further consolidate Nigeria’s
democratic gains.”
Dr. Baker is president emeritus of the U.S.-based Fund for Peace and a
renowned expert in Nigerian politics. Earlier in her career, Dr. Baker
lived in Nigeria for 11 years and taught political science for seven
years at the University of Lagos. She has served as an election observer
in five Nigerian elections since the restoration of democracy in 1999.
The delegation will include Lauren Blanchard, specialist in African
Affairs, U.S. Congressional Research Service (USA); Christopher
Fomunyoh, senior associate and regional director for Central and West
Africa, NDI (Cameroon); Jan Surotchak, regional director for Europe, IRI
(USA); and Terry Tselane, vice chairperson, Electoral Commission of
South Africa (South Africa).
The mission’s findings will be presented at a press conference in Abuja on July 20, 2018.
“NDI and IRI will conduct a second pre-election assessment in
September 2018, and will jointly deploy international observers to the
February 2019 presidential and legislative elections and the March 2019
gubernatorial and state assembly polls.
“IRI and NDI have organized more than 200 international election
observation missions around the globe, earning a reputation for
impartiality and professionalism.
“The IRI-NDI mission to Nigeria will conduct its activities in
accordance with the Declaration of Principles for International Election
Observation and Code of Conduct adopted by the United Nations in 2005
and will base its findings and recommendations on Nigerian laws and on
international standards for elections.
“All activities will be conducted on a strictly nonpartisan basis and without interfering in the election process.
Source : Vanguard
Friday, July 13, 2018
2019: Int’l delegates arrive Nigeria to assess pre-election environment
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