NIGERIA: ANOTHER MEETING ON ELECTION REFORM

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABUJA 000119

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DOE FOR CAROLYN GAY

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/18/2018
TAGS: PGOV KDEM NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIA: ANOTHER MEETING ON ELECTION REFORM

Classified By: Political Counselor Walter Pflaumer for reasons 1.4. (b
& d).


1. (C) Summary: Nigerian President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua held
a "consultative meeting on the electoral process" at the
Presidential Villa in Abuja January 16. Participants
included state governors, legislators, political parties,
representatives of the Independent National Electoral
Commission (INEC),and security officials. As a result of
the meeting, Vice President Goodluck Jonathan has been
charged with coordinating the work of four committees: an
interparty committee, security committee, legislative
committee, and the Governor's forum. The recommendations of
these committees will form the agenda for a subsequent
presidential meeting on election reform. Though it is
positive to see the President publicly discussing the need
for election reform, it is unlikely that the new committees
will have any real impact, as they are composed of the same
election officials, security services, and politicians who
make up and benefit from the current electoral system. End
Summary.


2. (U) In response to ongoing criticisms about the April
2007 state and national elections and the disorganized and
sometimes violent recent local government polls in several
states, President Yar'Adua invited INEC representatives,
security officials (including the National Security Advisor),
the heads of all political parties who currently hold office
in at least one state, governors, and legislators to a
meeting in Abuja January 16 to discuss Nigeria's "electoral
crisis" and proposals for a way forward. Representatives of
the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP),as well as All
Nigerian People's Party (ANPP),All Progressive's Grand
Alliance (APGA),and Progressive People's Alliance (PPA)
attended. Though the Action Congress (AC) leadership did not
participate, Lagos Governor Babatunde Fashola (AC) did
attend. During the meeting President Yar'Adua told
participants and the media that the political elites
themselves must change if the electoral system in Nigeria is
to improve. The President said that "No matter the
legislation, no matter the efforts we put at electoral
reform, no matter the credibility of the electoral umpire,
unless we political leaders change our attitude towards
election, we will continue to have problems."


3. (U) As a way forward, President Yar'Adua tasked Vice
President Goodluck Jonathan to coordinate the work of four
new committees and explained that their recommendations would
form the agenda for a subsequent presidential meeting on
elections. An inter-party committee will be comprised of the
PDP, ANPP, APGA, and PPA. A security committee will be
headed by the NSA General Mukhtar and will examine the role
of security agencies in elections. A legislative committee
will be headed by Senate President David Mark, and the final
committee is the Governor's forum.


4. (C) Comment: Though it is important that President
Yar'Adua continues to make election reform a topic of public
discussion, it is not likely any breakthrough initiatives
will come out of the newly formed committees. Their mandates
are vague and no deadline has been announced for report back
of their recommendations. Perhaps most troubling is the poor
choice of leadership for this exercise. The committees are
made up of government officials and politicians who created
and benefit from the current system. The Vice President is
not known to be energetic or thoughtful, so he is unlikely to
add any value as "coordinator" of the committees. The Senate
President is one of the biggest beneficiaries of Nigeria's
flawed election system (and facing very real threat of losing
his seat at tribunal),and the same is true for many of the
Governors. Unfortunately, the only real value likely to be
gained from this exercise is continued, high-level and public
statements about the need for election reform. End comment.
PIASCIK