NATIONAL ASSEMBLY ON ELECTIONS, INEC

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABUJA 000156 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/23/2017 TAGS: PGOV KDEM NI ELECTIONS SUBJECT: NATIONAL ASSEMBLY ON ELECTIONS, INEC Classified By: Acting Political Counselor Heather Merritt for Reasons 1 .4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) At a January 23 reception, Chairman Hamisu Mu'azu Shira of the Nigerian House Committee on Electoral Matters told Poloffs the House is committed to smooth elections and a smooth transition of power this spring. Shira indicated he heard the Senate passed the first reading of a bill extending the voter registration deadline to 60 days prior to elections. (Note: News reports on January 24 confirmed this information. The House passed a similar bill in December.) Without an extension, Shira explained, the late completion of the INEC registration exercise could be used to throw the process off track and delay April elections. Shira believes the Senate will pass the bill soon, ending the possibility of contesting the legality of continued registration. ¶2. (C) Shira told Poloff the House has decided not to call for the resignation of INEC Chairman Maurice Iwu, noting that the registration exercise has become more efficient in recent weeks. According to Shira, INEC's most recent figures show more than 42 million registered voters (or over half the probable electorate). He attributed the increased numbers to the acquisition of laptop computers to complement the direct data capture machines. ¶3. (C) BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE: Shira, elected to the House in 2003 from the northern Shira/Giade area of Bauchi State on a PDP ticket, told Poloff he will not run for reelection despite his eligibility for another term. He told Poloff he will support a candidate from elsewhere in his district "to provide balance." This, he maintained, would also allow the voters in the future to choose a candidate based on qualifications rather than locality. He did not rule out the idea of running for Senate in four years when voters have been able to see his work compared to that of another and "know he did not unduly favor his own town." Until then, he told Poloff he is open to an Ambassadorial appointment, political appointment or consultancy work. COMMENT. Shira's explanation of why he is not seeking reelection, while diplomatically stated, is likely not wholy accurate. Shira was an outspoken opponent of Obasanjo's third term bid in spring 2005 and because of this he was unlikely to get PDP support for a second term. He appears now to be biding his time until the 2011 elections to throw his hat in the ring, but with his eyes on a Senate seat instead. END COMMENT. CAMPBELL