the embassies of the United States, the United Kingdom and 105 others
for the March 28 and April 11 elections.
Most foreign missions in the country have also opened desks for the
monitoring of the election, as facts begin to unfold on why the
planned meeting between the President of the Christian Association of
Nigeria, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, and INEC Chairman, Attahiru Jega,
failed to materialise.
Overall, INEC, according to investigation, has accredited 82 domestic
and 25 foreign observers.
Some of those on the list are EU Election Observation Mission;
Commonwealth Observers Mission; African Union Election Observation
Mission; Germany Embassy; Embassy of France in Nigeria; Embassy of
the Republic of Korea; Oxford Department of International
Development, University of Oxford; ECOWAS Mission; High Commission of
Canada; Australian High Commission; Embassy of Japan; UNDP/ DGD
Project; Ghana High Commission; the International Foundation for
Electoral Systems(IFES); Embassy of Switzerland; UN Women;
International Republican Institute(IRI) and Independent Electoral and
Boundaries Commission, Kenya.
The rest include NEPAD, FIDA, NAWOJ, Justice Development and Peace
Commission(Catholic Caritas Foundation of Nigeria); National Human
Rights Commission(NHRC); Police Service Commission; Election Monitor;
Nigerian Civil Society Situation Room(Policy and Legal Advocacy
Centre); Nigerian Bar Association(NBA) Alliance for Credible Election
among others.
A diplomat toldThe Nationyesterday that foreign interest in the
elections stemmed from Nigeria's "importance to the political and
economic development of West Africa."
"Apart from being the largest in population in the sub-region, Nigeria
has the largest economy in Africa. I think about three to four
elections will still hold in Africa this year. If democracy survives
in Nigeria, it will serve as a beacon for other parts of the
continent," the diplomat said.
"Most of the diplomatic missions have opened monitoring desks for
Nigerian elections. We do not want violence; we want a free and fair
process."
Sources said there is no restriction on where the observers may visit
while the elections last.
"All the local and foreign observers are free to go to any part of the
country to look at how we are going to conduct elections," one source
said.
"We do not restrict or censor them in any manner because INEC is
determined to ensure free, fair, transparent and credible general
elections."
The source however said the commission has some monitors on the field
to make sure that all the over 600,000 ad hoc staff and other
electoral officers live up to expectations.
The Chief Press Secretary to INEC chairman, Mr. Kayode Robert Idowu,
said last night that: "We are ready for the elections. We have
accredited 107 observers apart from monitors to be deployed
nationwide.
"As for the training of ad hoc staff, we would be concluding it on
Saturday (yesterday) or Sunday (today). All hands are on the deck for
hitch-free polls."
Meanwhile, it was gathered that Jega could not meet with the
President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Pastor Ayo
Oritsejafor because the Bishop failed to follow up his request for
the meeting.
A National Commissioner told The Nation that a text message was sent
to INEC by someone requesting for audience for the CAN President.
"As the chairman of INEC, any Nigerian can just wake up and send a
text to him. Even at that, Jega was cautious and polite in asking for
an official letter of request for audience," the source said.
"The following day, a letter was sent from CAN booking an appointment
with the INEC chairman. Without considering the busy schedule of Jega,
the letter was specific on the date and time.
"We tried to adjust the schedule of INEC chairman but it was tight.
Jega directed INEC's Secretary to reply CAN President that the time
fixed was not convenient because the chairman had a prior commitment.
The letter was with a caveat of 'let us look at another time' to meet.
"Since then INEC has been expecting a fresh date from the CAN
President. But the INEC chairman woke up to read about snubbing of
Oritsejafor. It was unfortunate that only one side of the story was
presented to the media.
Responding to a question, the source added: "Jega had met with all
religious leaders last year. Even under the aegis of the Nigeria
Inter-Religious Council (NIREC), Jega had audience with Oritsejafor
and others."
--TheNation
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