NIGERIA: VOTER REGISTRATION BEGINS SLOWLY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ABUJA 002675

SIPDIS


LONDON FOR GURNEY
PARIS FOR NEARY


E.O.12958: DECL: 07/30/12
TAGS: PGOV SOCI KDEM NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIA: VOTER REGISTRATION BEGINS SLOWLY


CLASSIFIED BY AMBASADOR HOWARD F.JETER. REASONS 1.5 (B) AND (D).



1. (C) Summary: Voter registration began in Abuja
September 12 with little fanfare and not much of a
turnout. Previously postponed in July and August,
there was ample speculation the exercise would be
cancelled once more because of INEC's unpreparedness
and the injunction sought by unregistered political
parties. However, the lawsuit was decided in INEC's
favor, allowing registration to proceed. Poloff
observed registration at three local centers. The
centers had sufficient registration materials but only
small numbers of people were queued to register. The
centers were poorly identified and difficult to
locate. On one level of analysis, that registration
began at all is welcome news. Yet, judging by what we
saw in Abuja, INEC was not fully prepared; a
significant portion of the first day and perhaps of
the next few days of this ten-day exercise will likely
be devoted to concluding what should have been pre-
September 12 preparations. While some of the signs are
positive, this first day provided no clear indication
whether INEC can pull off a credible registration
exercise. End Summary.



2. (C) For ten days (September 12-21),voter
registration is scheduled to take place in 120,000
centers throughout Nigeria. Centers are expected to
register 50 people a day for the entire period. Most
are open-air centers with no shelter. Poloff observed
the voter registration process at three centers in
Abuja. There were no signs identifying the centers to
the general public. The sites could only be picked
out by the small cluster of people gathered to
register.



3. (C) The first center was inside a school compound;
once on campus, it took three inquiries to locate the
correct building. There were three registering
officials and representatives of the PDP and ANPP
present. At 1515, 24 people had been registered and
the process was taking 15 minutes per applicant. Only
three voters were waiting in line. Poloff noticed
posters advertising the registration lying on the
floor but none had been displayed around the
neighborhood. The other centers visited had registered
45 and 112 people respectively. These two were easier
to find, because they were outside, but they were
likewise unmarked. A British High Commission (BHC)
Poloff found two out of three centers visited closed
due to rain, and the one that was open had relocated
to a nearby shelter. As with one of the sites observed
by Poloff, BHC Poloff found only two of the required
three officials present.



4. (C) Although political party observers were mostly
pleased with the process there were complaints from
registrants that the centers were difficult to find.
They groused that a list of registration centers was
not available to the general public. The presiding
officials appeared to be conscientious; however,
inadequate infrastructure and equipment made it a very
difficult process. Information was first recorded
manually and then transferred to a computer readable
form. Registrants were required to leave thumbprints
and then the thumb was marked with indelible ink (to
prevent multiple registrations). A temporary card was
issued at the end of the process. (Note: INEC
guidelines originally required that the temporary
cards be laminated prior to issuance. Amended
requirements deleted this step. Temporary cards
looked flimsy and easily damaged. End note.)


5.(C) Poloff asked when permanent cards would be
issued. The officials replied only that there would be
an announcement when the cards were ready.


6.(U) Efforts to promote voter registration varied
across the country. Media coverage was sparse as talk
of the presidential impeachment dominated the press.
Only a few radio advertisements promoting registration
were broadcast this week. In Kano and Plateau States
September 12 and 13 were declared public holidays and
turnout appeared to be above the rate required per
polling sites. Turnout in Kaduna was reported as poor.
The Governor of Katsina visited several centers to
encourage participation in his state.



7. (C) Some governors reportedly threatened to
withhold salaries from civil servants who do not
register. (Note: Some of these states are already in
arrears of salary payments. The threat, to some
degree, is empty posturing for political purposes.
However, many governors want to maximize the number of
registered voters in their states. A larger pool of
voters translates into more political clout and the
potential for a larger share of federal funds down the
road. End Note.) Osun, Ogun, Oyo, Edo and Bayelsa
States issued threats that September wages would be
paid upon presentation of a voter card. The Nasarawa
State Governor purportedly told citizens that cards
would be required for medical treatment and school
admission. Governor Ahmed Mu'azu of Bauchi State
ordered senior government officials to return to their
places of origin in order to "aggressively mobilize
citizens to register."


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Comment
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8.(C) The long awaited registration exercise was
greeted with relief. Its start was uncertain as late
as September 11. While our sampling of stations in
Abuja was not scientific we believe it was
sufficiently reflective of what happened in most of
Northern Nigeria. It showed that registration has
begun slowly and that INEC was not fully prepared.
Nevertheless, it was encouraging that centers were
open and that forms were available. The initial low
turnout was expected; the turnout should rise over
the weekend and accelerate as the ten days progress.
Hopefully, information about the registration centers
will be better disseminated and their locations better
identified.



9. (C) Given that ten days is a minimally adequate
time period to conduct registration in Nigeria, each
day it appears the pace of registration has been
slowed by INEC's lack of preparation lessens the
possibility that the exercise will be viewed as
successful by most Northern Nigerians. Many
Northerners already suspect INEC of trying to minimize
the numbers of voters registered in the North due to
the strong opposition to President Obasanjo that comes
from this region of the country.
JETER