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Niger Politician Pledges Party Support for Electoral Body

   Peter Clottey 14 June 2010
   The  head of the junta in Niger, Major Salou Djibo, who took over in a
   February  18,  2010 coup that toppled President Mamadou Tandja, 24 Feb
   2010 (file photo)

Photo: AFP

   The  head of the junta in Niger, Major Salou Djibo, who took over in a
   February  18,  2010 coup that toppled President Mamadou Tandja, 24 Feb
   2010 (file photo)

   A  leading  member  of  the Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism
   (PNDS-Tarayya)  told  VOA  his party is ready to work closely with the
   newly  constituted Independent Electoral Commission (CENI) to ensure a
   credible vote in elections scheduled for 26^th December.

   Bazoum Mohammed said all political parties, including non-governmental
   organizations  (NGOs), were widely consulted before the military junta
   announced the formation of the electoral body.

   âIt  is  what  the  electoral  law provides and the National Electoral
   Commission  has  been  formed  and  we  are  ready  to  work with this
   commission.  It  has  been organized on the law basis, and we are very
   happy today to see this commission set up,â he said.

   A  group of constitutional experts recently drafted the electoral code
   which was then passed by the National Consultative Council.

   The  electoral  code stipulates that members of the electoral body are
   named  by  a presidential decree after being selected or designated by
   Nigerâs public institutions.

   Mohammed  said  the  electoral  body  will soon announce plans for the
   presidential vote.

   âI  think  that this commission will be able to give us these dates in
   two weeks, or before two weeks. It is possible for them to give us all
   the   dates   of   the   elections;  the  presidential  election,  the
   parliamentary  election,  and  even,  I  think,  the  local election,â
   Mohammed said.

   Members  of  the electoral body were sworn in Monday by Prime Minister
   Mahamadou  Danda  in  the  capital,  Niamey.  The  commission has been
   mandated  to  organize  the next elections and to ensure the winner of
   the  presidential  vote  will  be  sworn  in  by  1^st  March  2011 as
   stipulated in recommendations by the National Consultative Council.

   Nigerâs  military  junta  set  up the National Consultative Council to
   help   the   countryâs  transition  to  constitutional  rule.  Led  by
   opposition  leader  Marou  Amadou,  the  Consultative  Council has 131
   members  drawn  from  political  parties,  trade unions, civil society
   groups, defense and security forces.

   Party  leader  Mohammed  said  there  is  need for the other political
   parties to support the work of the newly constituted electoral body.

   âWe  donât  have  any  doubt  about  the transparency of this election
   because  the  commission has been set up on a consensus basis. All the
   political parties decided to appoint the president of this commission,
   the  vice president. And, the civil society organizations elected some
   other  members.  And, there is in this commission representatives from
   parties,â Mohammed said.

   He  also  said  that Niger has often held credible elections devoid of
   voter irregularities.

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