INEC'S FEATHERS RUFFLED, THEN SMOOTHED, AFTER

UNCLAS ABUJA 001498

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV SOCI PINR OIIP OPRC KDEM NI
SUBJECT: INEC'S FEATHERS RUFFLED, THEN SMOOTHED, AFTER
NEWSPAPER ATTRIBUTES ANONYMOUS COMMENTS TO EMBASSY



1. Summary: In an August 8 front page article, a
Nigerian newspaper printed an article highly critical
of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)
Chairman Maurice Iwu. The article claimed to be based
on comments from an anonymous US Embassy source. Both
INEC and the USAID-funded NGO working with INEC to
improve capacity, the International Federation for
Election Systems (IFES),contacted the Embassy with
concerns about the article, and we assured them that
there was no Embassy source for the article. End
Summary.


2. An IFES officer called the Embassy on the evening
of August 8 to seek clarification on an article printed
in the Nigerian Tribune that day. The IFES officer
advised that both IFES and INEC were upset by the
article. (Note: IFES receives USAID funding to build
capacity at INEC. End Note.)


3. Because that newspaper, based in Ibadan, has a
regional focus and a reputation as a tabloid, the POL
section does not receive it, but Poloff located the
article online at
"http://www.tribune.com.ng/080805/news01.htm" . The
article claimed that an anonymous "competent source
within the US Embassy in Nigeria" had said the U.S. was
suspicious of Iwu and INEC, and had "directed" the EU
and other countries to monitor INEC more closely.


4. Poloff assured the IFES officer that no Embassy
official had made any such remarks to the Nigerian
Tribune or to any other journalist. The IFES officer
accepted Poloff's explanation. He said that INEC
Chairman Iwu would shortly be leaving for Washington on
a previously planned trip to meet with State and USAID
officials, and that Iwu was still upset about the
article.


5. As Poloff attempted to call Iwu, the Embassy
received a letter from Steve Osemeke, INEC's Public
Affairs Director, objecting to the remarks attributed
to the anonymous Embassy official, and requesting that
we "speak on the status of the story." Osemeke called
Poloff, and when he learned that Poloff was trying to
call Iwu, Osemeke gave Poloff Iwu's private office
number.


6. Poloff spoke with INEC Chairman Iwu for about five
minutes. Iwu insisted that if the Embassy had said
these things, it would "poison" the solid relationship
that INEC, IFES, and USAID currently enjoy. Poloff
assured Iwu that no Embassy official had made these
remarks to any journalist. When Poloff apologized for
the confusion caused by the situation, Iwu broke the
tension by laughing and telling Poloff not to worry:
"it's not your fault, or your Embassy." He requested
that the Embassy reply in writing to Osemeke's letter,
and Poloff agreed. Iwu said he was looking forward to
his U.S. trip and had lived in the U.S. for some ten
years when he was younger.


7. Comment: It is possible that the Nigerian Tribune
article is the latest shot in a feud between Iwu and a
former leader of the All Progressives Grand Alliance
(APGA) party over a report INEC had prepared on APGA's
finances that led to the APGA leader's ouster. Then
again, it is also possible that the Nigerian Tribune
was simply seeking a sensational headline to sell a few
more copies. End Comment.

CAMPBELL