EBONYI STATE EXPERIENCES A SEAMLESS TRANSITION

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 LAGOS 000580

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR AF/W
STATE FOR INR/AA
STATE PASS OPIC FOR ZHAN AND MSTUCKART
DOE FOR CAROLYN GAY
WARSAW FOR LISA PIASCIK
CIUDAD JUAREZ FOR DONNA BLAIR
ISTANBUL FOR TASHAWNA SMITH
SAO PAOLO FOR ANDREW WITHERSPOON

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/14/2017
TAGS: PGOV KDEM NI
SUBJECT: EBONYI STATE EXPERIENCES A SEAMLESS TRANSITION

REF: LAGOS 248

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Classified By: Acting Consul General Donald McConnell for reasons 1.4 (
B) and (D)


1. (C) Summary: In a July 31 visit by Pol-econ chief to
Ebonyi State, Governor Martin Elechi praised U.S. involvement
in Nigeria and cited his top priorities as reforming the
civil service and promoting development. Some observers
contended Elechi's bureaucratic experience and acumen would
benefit Ebonyi. However, Elechi's commissioners are largely
holdovers from the previous administration of former Governor
Sam Egwu, and there is uncertainty whether the Elechi
administration will differ significantly from its
predecessor. While the All Nigeria People's Party (ANPP) has
claimed they have the evidence to overturn the gubernatorial
election, the tribunal's decisions have favored the ruling
party, so for now Ebonyi remains a state dominated by the
People's Democratic Party (PDP). End summary.

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Visit to the Ebonyi State Governor
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2. (U) On July 31, Pol-econ chief visited Ebonyi State
Governor Martin Elechi in the government house. In a
closed-door meeting, Governor Elechi appeared delighted to
meet the Consulate delegation, and expressed his gratitude
for U.S. involvement in Nigeria. Elechi told Pol-econ chief
that from 1963-1966 he had studied in Kinshasa under a USAID
grant, and he recalled U.S. involvement under the Carter
administration to rid Nigeria of a Guinea worm epidemic.


3. (U) Elechi's first priority would be to reform the civil
service, though Elechi did not comment exactly how he would
lead reform beyond "changing the mindset". Elechi asserted
his administration's two main challenges were to reduce the
reliance on the executive for all decision making, and to
press for economic development in the state.

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Elechi is Experienced, and Still Close to Egwu
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4. (C) In a meeting with political observers from the media,
journalists praised Elechi's experience and lack of pretense.
Felix Uka, correspondent for the Daily Independent, told
Poloff that Elechi's experience had allowed him to take some
positive steps to reform, as Elechi had already reduced the
number of ministries and shuffled some members of the civil
service in the name of efficiency.


5. (C) Elechi reappointed many of Egwu's former
commissioners, even handing some the same portfolios.
Nonetheless, Godwin of Radio Nigeria, an Elechi supporter,
contended the Governor did not take orders from Egwu, and
commented despite his qualifications people had a tendency to
underestimate Elechi. Godwin added Elechi had reached out to
the opposition, appointing the state ANPP Director of
Planning Egwu Chima and two rivals for the PDP gubernatorial
nomination. Since Elechi had become Governor, his
unpretentious mien had led to less hubbub and fewer
hangers-on at the government house, Godwin added. Uka
commented while Egwu had made strides in education, many of
the projects which the former Governor initiated during his
eight-year tenure remained incomplete, adding that hopefully
Elechi would see more projects to fruition.


6. (C) Ebonyi State had a very uneven election, Uka
observed, remarking some places held voting while in others
it was nonexistent. Uka noted the tribunal had ordered the
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to provide
all its voting materials for inspection, although INEC so far
had not complied, claiming the materials were with the local
governments. Uka saw some petitioners possibly winning their

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cases, but he considered it too difficult to overturn the
gubernatorial election because of the PDP's strength and the
tribunal's ability to dismiss a petition on technicalities.
ANPP gubernatorial candidate Ogbonnaya Onu, the strongest
petitioner, was seen as an outsider because he was originally
from Abia state, noted Uka. Godwin concurred, and added
while the ANPP has strong support, the court had chastised
some of the petitioners for their lack of evidence.

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ANPP: We Can Win at the Tribunal
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7. (C) Ebonyi State ANPP Chairman Nwambe Livinus told Poloff
while the tribunals have so far progressed well for the
party, INEC had not provided all the materials despite a
tribunal order. Livinus asserted the ANPP knew INEC had
failed to run the election properly as "what they had to do
they failed, and what they did was incorrect". Despite
INEC's delaying tactics, Livinus was confident of victory,
and told Poloff that at the tribunal proceedings so many ANPP
supporters had attended INEC complained.


8. (C) Livinus said the ANPP believed the courts were sound
and would make the right judgment, as he showed poloff the
documents INEC had already submitted. In the documents, INEC
had crossed out the name president and handwritten governor
on the result sheet, and INEC had submitted for inspection
ballots with incorrect serial numbers. In Ebonyi, most
places did not hold elections, Livinus alleged, as the
government hired the drivers and many of the ad hoc workers,
who drove to an undisclosed location to thumbprint the
ballots. The ANPP had witnesses in most wards willing to
testify there was no voting, Livinus said.


9. (C) While the Ebonyi ANPP received moral support from the
national headquarters they were short on cash, commented
Livinus, as the tribunal was very expensive and had forced
some petitioners to opt out of the proceedings. Livinus said
turncoat Chima was a senatorial candidate who had sabotaged
the ANPP and now received his prize, adding the ANPP had
suspended Chima and disassociated itself from his decision to
join the government. Ultimately, Livinus termed the
tribunals as the last hope for democracy. While President
Yar'Adua had announced his support for free and fair
elections Livinus doubted his sincerity, but he claimed if
the tribunal overturned the April results public scrutiny
would ensure a better election. While Livinus did not know
when the tribunal would decide, he claimed to not be worried
since the Supreme Court's decision on Anambra State Governor
Peter Obi guaranteed a four-year term should Onu win at the
tribunal.

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Comment
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10. (C) With the PDP's dominance in the state the
gubernatorial result was a foregone conclusion, though given
the evidence the opposition could construct a solid case and
force the tribunal to make a difficult decision. Egwu's
choice of Elechi has some logic. A largely agricultural
state with few resources, government is Ebonyi's biggest
business and the state needed an experienced hand at the
helm. It remains to be seen whether the heretofore
unaffiliated Elechi can satisfy the various factions in the
state, many of whom coveted the governorship for themselves.

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Biographical Note on Governor Martin Elechi
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11. (C) Governor Martin Elechi is in his seventies. Elechi
likes small talk and has a dry sense of humor in meetings,
and he prefers to take his own notes and reportedly travels

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with little entourage. After winning the PDP nomination,
Poloff saw Elechi at the Enugu airport traveling with only
one aide. Considered one of the founders of Ebonyi State,
created in 1996, after the state's creation Elechi served as
Minister of Public Works for the now-defunct Central Ebonyi
region. Despite his standing in Ebonyi, Elechi's selection
was a surprise; none of the major newspapers even listed
Elechi as a candidate prior to the PDP primary. Despite his
lack of a discernable base, former Governor Sam Egwu
supported Elechi for the PDP nomination and convinced all the
main contenders to withdraw.

MCCONNELL