Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ABUJA1036
2009-06-10 15:26:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Abuja
Cable title:  

NIGERIA: MEGA-PARTY DELAYS DECISIONS ABOUT ITS

Tags:  PREL PGOV NI 
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C O N F I D E N T I A L ABUJA 001036 

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/W, INR/AA
BAGHDAD FOR DMCCULLOUGH

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/08/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIA: MEGA-PARTY DELAYS DECISIONS ABOUT ITS
FUTURE, FOCUSES ON ELECTORAL REFORM

Classified By: Political Counselor Walter N.S. Pflaumer for reasons 1.4
(b) and (d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABUJA 001036

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/W, INR/AA
BAGHDAD FOR DMCCULLOUGH

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/08/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIA: MEGA-PARTY DELAYS DECISIONS ABOUT ITS
FUTURE, FOCUSES ON ELECTORAL REFORM

Classified By: Political Counselor Walter N.S. Pflaumer for reasons 1.4
(b) and (d)


1. (SBU) On June 3 PolOff met with Mr. Osita Okechukwu,
National Publicity Secretary of the Conference of Nigeria
Political Parties. Okechukwu said the parties within the
"Mega Summit Movement" (until now known as the opposition
"mega-party") have not yet decided whether they will form a
new political party, or if they will adopt the platform of an
existing party. He opined that some political parties will
likely remain independent, but will support the mega-party's
presidential candidate instead of putting forth their own
candidate. However, Okechukwu said the Mega Summit Movement
has put off such decisions for now in order to focus on
electoral reform. He emphasized that "first and foremost, a
level playing field is needed" in order to provide the
opposition a fair opportunity in 2011.


2. (C) Comment: The opposition's lack of any concrete steps
in organizing as a political party furthers our belief that
the "mega-party" is unlikely to pose any significant
challenge the ruling party in the 2011 elections. End
Comment.


4. (SBU) Okechukwu said it is unfortunate that President
Yar'Adua seems to view challenges to the current electoral
process as a personal issue, as it is not his current
presidency that the opposition is challenging; they hope,
rather, to raise the standard for future elections.
Therefore, he said the Mega Summit Movement has formed an
alliance with civil society organizations, labor, and other
progressive democrats to present a draft Electoral Amendment
Bill to the National Assembly. The movement's May 29 press
statement outlines the reforms it believes are necessary to
achieve free and fair elections: 1) appointment of key
officials must be removed from the president; 2) funding for
the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) should be a
"first-charge" on the consolidated revenue fund; 3) all
electoral disputes should conclude before declaring a winner;
and 4) the legal burden to show that the election was not
mismanaged should be on INEC.


3. (C) Comment: We welcome the movement's efforts to
encourage electoral reform, though we question the chances of
yet another private member's bill getting very far in a
National Assembly that has only managed to pass a handful of
bills in the past two years (the budget twice, a
supplementary budget and a bill to raise their own salaries).
End Comment.


4. (U) This cable was coordinated with Consulate Lagos.
SANDERS