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Nigerian Group Commits to Voter Education Ahead of January Election

   Peter Clottey 07 September 2010
   Voters  queue  to  cast their vote during the governorship election at
   Ekulobia district in Anambra State, Nigeria, 06 Feb 2010

Photo: AFP

   Voters  queue  to  cast their vote during the governorship election at
   Ekulobia district in Anambra State, Nigeria, 06 Feb 2010 (file)

   The  General  Secretary  of  the  Alliance  for  Credible Elections, a
   non-partisan  pressure group, said his organization is ready to embark
   on  a nationwide voter education exercise ahead of Nigeriaâs scheduled
   22^nd January presidential vote.

   Emma  Ezeazu  said some Nigerians have expressed concerns that time is
   too  short for the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) to organize
   a credible vote.

   âThere  has  been  anxiety  whether  there  is enough time to do voter
   registration  and  then go to elections by January, but that is now by
   the  side.  The  timetable is out and we have to follow the timetable.
   And,  we  have  to do all that we can within the possibility existing,
   within  the  framework  of  the timetable, that has been pushed out by
   INEC,â he said.

   Professor  Attahiru Jega, the new chairman of the electoral body, said
   the  January  presidential  election will be free and fair despite the
   short time for preparations ahead of the vote.

   A  local  newspaper  quoted Professor Jega as threatening to prosecute
   officials who engage in what he calls electoral malpractice..

   âWe  will make sure really anybody who breaches the (voter) regulation
   and commits misconduct will be appropriately penalized.â

   Both  local  and  International  poll  observers  criticized  the 2007
   general election as failing to meet international standards saying the
   vote was fraught with rigging and violence.

   But,  Ezeazu  said his organization will put pressure on the electoral
   commission to ensure a vote that will meet international norms.

   âWe  are  expecting  that  they  (INEC) should be able to give us a 60
   percent success in this coming election. However, they do (not do) it,
   that is their cup of tea. But, everyone is expecting that they will be
   able  to  give  us a 60 percent success. As a citizen organization, we
   will  do all in our (power) to ensure that that aim (credible vote) is
   realized,â Ezeazu said.

   The  electoral commission announced Tuesday that the national assembly
   elections will be held on 15^th January and scheduled the presidential
   vote  for 22^nd January. The elections for state governorship, as well
   as the state assemblies, will be held on 29^th January.

   Ezeazu said his organization will closely scrutinize activities of the
   electoral body ahead of the various elections.

   âWe  will  monitor  the  voter  registration  exercise  throughout the
   duration. We think that the voter registration exercise is critical to
   the  success of the 2011 elections. We will do voter education because
   we  think  that  there is apathy in the land and that there is need to
   recapture  the  faith  of the people in the electoral process,â Ezeazu
   said.

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