Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ABUJA2973
2006-11-14 15:32:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Abuja
Cable title:
ECOWAS ON NIGERIA'S 2007 ELECTIONS
how-toVZCZCXRO8445 PP RUEHPA DE RUEHUJA #2973 3181532 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 141532Z NOV 06 FM AMEMBASSY ABUJA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7788 INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK
C O N F I D E N T I A L ABUJA 002973
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/13/2016
TAGS: PGOV KDEM PHUM NI ELECTIONS
SUBJECT: ECOWAS ON NIGERIA'S 2007 ELECTIONS
Classified By: Ambassador John Campbell for Reasons 1.4 (b and d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L ABUJA 002973
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/13/2016
TAGS: PGOV KDEM PHUM NI ELECTIONS
SUBJECT: ECOWAS ON NIGERIA'S 2007 ELECTIONS
Classified By: Ambassador John Campbell for Reasons 1.4 (b and d)
1. (C) Summary: Ambassador met with ECOWAS Executive
Secretary Dr. Mohammed Ibn Chambas on November 13 to discuss
SIPDIS
Nigeria's 2007 elections. Dr. Chambas said that ECOWAS plans
to observe the elections next year and that a pre-election
assesment team, led by former President Soglo of Benin, would
visit Nigeria by December 2006. Chambas indicated that a
similar team is being dispatched to Senegal in November or
December. End Summary.
2. (C) The Ambassador expressed concerns about the pace of
elections preparation in Nigeria. He noted that the ongoing
registration exercise has been slow and plagued by technical
problems, including a severe shortage of electronic
registration machines. Dr. Chambas said flatly that
"Nigerians expect an election in April and a new President on
May 29, 2007," as do most Africans in general. He indicated
that ECOWAS will organize a team to observe the 2007
elections in Nigeria, as they do in all member states.
ECOWAS is also organizing a team to do a pre-election
assesment of Nigeria's preparations for 2007. Dr. Chambas
said that the four-member team would be lead by former
President Soglo of Benin and would include Ghana's current
Electoral Commissioner, Ghana's former Chief of Defense Staff
General Bing, and a francophone participant yet to be
indentified. ECOWAS hopes that the assesment team will visit
Nigeria in November, though December may be more likely. Dr.
Chambas also noted that ECOWAS has heard some concerns
regarding upcoming elections in Senegal and that a
pre-election assesment team is also being dispatched to Dakar
soon.
3. (C) Ambassador told Dr. Chambas that he was delighted to
hear about the ECOWAS assesment team. He said that friends
of Nigeria, like the US and ECOWAS, need to continue giving
public, visible signs that the 2007 elections are essential
and we expect them to take place. Dr. Chambas responded that
"if Benin can hold successful elections, then surely big
brother Nigeria can do so as well."
CAMPBELL
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/13/2016
TAGS: PGOV KDEM PHUM NI ELECTIONS
SUBJECT: ECOWAS ON NIGERIA'S 2007 ELECTIONS
Classified By: Ambassador John Campbell for Reasons 1.4 (b and d)
1. (C) Summary: Ambassador met with ECOWAS Executive
Secretary Dr. Mohammed Ibn Chambas on November 13 to discuss
SIPDIS
Nigeria's 2007 elections. Dr. Chambas said that ECOWAS plans
to observe the elections next year and that a pre-election
assesment team, led by former President Soglo of Benin, would
visit Nigeria by December 2006. Chambas indicated that a
similar team is being dispatched to Senegal in November or
December. End Summary.
2. (C) The Ambassador expressed concerns about the pace of
elections preparation in Nigeria. He noted that the ongoing
registration exercise has been slow and plagued by technical
problems, including a severe shortage of electronic
registration machines. Dr. Chambas said flatly that
"Nigerians expect an election in April and a new President on
May 29, 2007," as do most Africans in general. He indicated
that ECOWAS will organize a team to observe the 2007
elections in Nigeria, as they do in all member states.
ECOWAS is also organizing a team to do a pre-election
assesment of Nigeria's preparations for 2007. Dr. Chambas
said that the four-member team would be lead by former
President Soglo of Benin and would include Ghana's current
Electoral Commissioner, Ghana's former Chief of Defense Staff
General Bing, and a francophone participant yet to be
indentified. ECOWAS hopes that the assesment team will visit
Nigeria in November, though December may be more likely. Dr.
Chambas also noted that ECOWAS has heard some concerns
regarding upcoming elections in Senegal and that a
pre-election assesment team is also being dispatched to Dakar
soon.
3. (C) Ambassador told Dr. Chambas that he was delighted to
hear about the ECOWAS assesment team. He said that friends
of Nigeria, like the US and ECOWAS, need to continue giving
public, visible signs that the 2007 elections are essential
and we expect them to take place. Dr. Chambas responded that
"if Benin can hold successful elections, then surely big
brother Nigeria can do so as well."
CAMPBELL