Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ABUJA808
2007-04-27 15:12:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Abuja
Cable title:
PRESIDENT SPEAKS TO THE NATION ABOUT ELECTORAL
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UNCLAS ABUJA 000808
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DOE FOR CAROLYN GAY
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KDEM PHUM NI ELECTIONS
SUBJECT: PRESIDENT SPEAKS TO THE NATION ABOUT ELECTORAL
FLAWS
UNCLAS ABUJA 000808
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DOE FOR CAROLYN GAY
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KDEM PHUM NI ELECTIONS
SUBJECT: PRESIDENT SPEAKS TO THE NATION ABOUT ELECTORAL
FLAWS
1. In a nationwide radio and television broadcast on April
24, President Olusegun Obasanjo admitted problems in the
conduct of the elections, but advised aggrieved parties "to
avail themselves of the laid down constitutional procedure
for seeking redress in electoral matters." In his 15-minute
speech, President Obasanjo said the Nigerian constitution and
legal system anticipated that participants in elections might
feel aggrieved and provided built-in mechanisms for redress.
While acknowledging that the general elections were
characterized by logistical problems, the President said the
results of the elections "had not deviated materially from
the average projections of the polls."
2. President Obasanjo in his post-election broadcast
acknowledged logistical lapses which resulted in the late
arrival of voting materials which he said "inadvertently
deprived some voters of their right to exercise their civic
responsibility." Obasanjo blamed all political parties and
some political leaders for the irregularities, fraud and
violence witnessed at the polls.
3. In the speech, President Obasanjo alleged some political
leaders had openly fanned the embers of hate and violence
while others engaged in what he described as outright
subversive activity during the elections warning nothing
should be done to make Nigerians lose faith in the electoral
process. The Presidency had on a separate occasion accused
Senate President Ken Nnamani of mischief and subversive
activity during the elections.
4. President Obasanjo expressed the hope that the Election
Tribunals and Appellate Courts would complete the review of
the cases before them to enable Nigerians "reconcile with one
another and the nation would move on". He concluded that
"after all, in another four years, there will be an
opportunity for a fresh contest which will take care of
ballot paper and ballot box malpractices".
5. In a swift reaction, Conference of Nigerian Political
Parties (CNPP),an umbrella organization of most of the
opposition political parties in the country, has said
President Olusegun Obasanjo should be held responsible if
democracy collapsed in Nigeria. The CNPP said "instead of
sincerely apologizing to the Nigerian people for not only
proclaiming the election as a do-or-die battle, he went ahead
to subvert the election, allocate results; use the police and
other security agencies against the people."
CAMPBELL
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DOE FOR CAROLYN GAY
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KDEM PHUM NI ELECTIONS
SUBJECT: PRESIDENT SPEAKS TO THE NATION ABOUT ELECTORAL
FLAWS
1. In a nationwide radio and television broadcast on April
24, President Olusegun Obasanjo admitted problems in the
conduct of the elections, but advised aggrieved parties "to
avail themselves of the laid down constitutional procedure
for seeking redress in electoral matters." In his 15-minute
speech, President Obasanjo said the Nigerian constitution and
legal system anticipated that participants in elections might
feel aggrieved and provided built-in mechanisms for redress.
While acknowledging that the general elections were
characterized by logistical problems, the President said the
results of the elections "had not deviated materially from
the average projections of the polls."
2. President Obasanjo in his post-election broadcast
acknowledged logistical lapses which resulted in the late
arrival of voting materials which he said "inadvertently
deprived some voters of their right to exercise their civic
responsibility." Obasanjo blamed all political parties and
some political leaders for the irregularities, fraud and
violence witnessed at the polls.
3. In the speech, President Obasanjo alleged some political
leaders had openly fanned the embers of hate and violence
while others engaged in what he described as outright
subversive activity during the elections warning nothing
should be done to make Nigerians lose faith in the electoral
process. The Presidency had on a separate occasion accused
Senate President Ken Nnamani of mischief and subversive
activity during the elections.
4. President Obasanjo expressed the hope that the Election
Tribunals and Appellate Courts would complete the review of
the cases before them to enable Nigerians "reconcile with one
another and the nation would move on". He concluded that
"after all, in another four years, there will be an
opportunity for a fresh contest which will take care of
ballot paper and ballot box malpractices".
5. In a swift reaction, Conference of Nigerian Political
Parties (CNPP),an umbrella organization of most of the
opposition political parties in the country, has said
President Olusegun Obasanjo should be held responsible if
democracy collapsed in Nigeria. The CNPP said "instead of
sincerely apologizing to the Nigerian people for not only
proclaiming the election as a do-or-die battle, he went ahead
to subvert the election, allocate results; use the police and
other security agencies against the people."
CAMPBELL