Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ABUJA811
2008-05-05 14:49:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Abuja
Cable title:
NIGERIA: INSIDERS VIEW OF ELECTORAL REFORM
how-toVZCZCXRO5520 PP RUEHPA DE RUEHUJA #0811 1261449 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 051449Z MAY 08 FM AMEMBASSY ABUJA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2747 INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE RUEHOS/AMCONSUL LAGOS 9174 RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE RUZEJAA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK
C O N F I D E N T I A L ABUJA 000811
SIPDIS
STATE FOR AF/W
DOE FOR GEORGE PERSON
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/23/2018
TAGS: PGOV ELAB KDEM NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIA: INSIDERS VIEW OF ELECTORAL REFORM
COMMISSION
REF: A. ABUJA 643
B. 07 ABUJA 791
C. 07 ABUJA 1155
D. 07 ABUJA 1855
Classified By: Political Counselor Walter Pflaumer for reasons 1.4. (b
& d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L ABUJA 000811
SIPDIS
STATE FOR AF/W
DOE FOR GEORGE PERSON
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/23/2018
TAGS: PGOV ELAB KDEM NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIA: INSIDERS VIEW OF ELECTORAL REFORM
COMMISSION
REF: A. ABUJA 643
B. 07 ABUJA 791
C. 07 ABUJA 1155
D. 07 ABUJA 1855
Classified By: Political Counselor Walter Pflaumer for reasons 1.4. (b
& d).
1. (C) Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) General Secretary and
Electoral Reform Commission (ERC) member John Odah (strictly
protect) told Poloff on April 14 that the ERC has been active
despite maintaining a low profile in the press. Odah
confirmed that the commission has remained out of the press
to allow members the freedom to work outside the spotlight
(Ref. A). Odah told Poloff neither Yar'Adua nor anyone else
from the GON has attempted to interfere in the ERC's work.
Though he characterized ERC Chairman Uwais (the former Chief
Justice who certified the fraudulent 2003 elections) as
promoting dialogue, he couched his statement, noting that the
hard work of coming up with concrete recommendations remains.
2. (C) According to Odah, the full ERC meets every other
week, immediately following meetings by the five working
groups: electoral systems, institutions, judicial issues,
history, and memoranda (an internal group providing oversight
of the distribution of documents from the public to the other
ERC working groups). The ERC continues to gather information
and has scheduled a series of public hearings across
Nigeria's six geopolitical zones to run May 12 to June 20.
Odah remained hopeful that the ERC will conclude its
recommendations in August as scheduled.
3. (C) COMMENT. Despite Odah's optimism, that the ERC is
still in data collection mode and will remain so for the next
two months based on its public hearing schedule, does not
bode well for completing its work in August. In addition,
Odah's couching of his praise for Uwais leads us to believe
even Odah has his doubts as to how non-partisan the Chairman
will remain once the discussion turns to recommendations. To
be effective, not only must the ERC develop concrete
recommendations, but the Yar'Adua administration must
demonstrate the political will to carry them through -- no
short order in Nigeria's "do or die" political environment.
END COMMENT.
4. (C) NOTE: The NLC was outspoken in its criticism of the
2007 elections and called for results that "contravene the
will of the people" to be overturned (Ref. B). That said, it
was the NLC's leadership that called for calm and forestalled
the potential eruption of May Day observances into
demonstrations by choosing to depoliticize the events (Ref.
C). The NLC has remained active in its calls for electoral
reform, partnering with the Nigerian Bar Association and the
U.S. National Democratic Institute (NDI) to hold workshops
and formulate concrete recommendations which were submitted
to the ERC. END NOTE.
SANDERS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR AF/W
DOE FOR GEORGE PERSON
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/23/2018
TAGS: PGOV ELAB KDEM NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIA: INSIDERS VIEW OF ELECTORAL REFORM
COMMISSION
REF: A. ABUJA 643
B. 07 ABUJA 791
C. 07 ABUJA 1155
D. 07 ABUJA 1855
Classified By: Political Counselor Walter Pflaumer for reasons 1.4. (b
& d).
1. (C) Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) General Secretary and
Electoral Reform Commission (ERC) member John Odah (strictly
protect) told Poloff on April 14 that the ERC has been active
despite maintaining a low profile in the press. Odah
confirmed that the commission has remained out of the press
to allow members the freedom to work outside the spotlight
(Ref. A). Odah told Poloff neither Yar'Adua nor anyone else
from the GON has attempted to interfere in the ERC's work.
Though he characterized ERC Chairman Uwais (the former Chief
Justice who certified the fraudulent 2003 elections) as
promoting dialogue, he couched his statement, noting that the
hard work of coming up with concrete recommendations remains.
2. (C) According to Odah, the full ERC meets every other
week, immediately following meetings by the five working
groups: electoral systems, institutions, judicial issues,
history, and memoranda (an internal group providing oversight
of the distribution of documents from the public to the other
ERC working groups). The ERC continues to gather information
and has scheduled a series of public hearings across
Nigeria's six geopolitical zones to run May 12 to June 20.
Odah remained hopeful that the ERC will conclude its
recommendations in August as scheduled.
3. (C) COMMENT. Despite Odah's optimism, that the ERC is
still in data collection mode and will remain so for the next
two months based on its public hearing schedule, does not
bode well for completing its work in August. In addition,
Odah's couching of his praise for Uwais leads us to believe
even Odah has his doubts as to how non-partisan the Chairman
will remain once the discussion turns to recommendations. To
be effective, not only must the ERC develop concrete
recommendations, but the Yar'Adua administration must
demonstrate the political will to carry them through -- no
short order in Nigeria's "do or die" political environment.
END COMMENT.
4. (C) NOTE: The NLC was outspoken in its criticism of the
2007 elections and called for results that "contravene the
will of the people" to be overturned (Ref. B). That said, it
was the NLC's leadership that called for calm and forestalled
the potential eruption of May Day observances into
demonstrations by choosing to depoliticize the events (Ref.
C). The NLC has remained active in its calls for electoral
reform, partnering with the Nigerian Bar Association and the
U.S. National Democratic Institute (NDI) to hold workshops
and formulate concrete recommendations which were submitted
to the ERC. END NOTE.
SANDERS