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Commonwealth Secretariat press release

Commonwealth to Assist Transition to Multi-Party Democracy in Nigeria

26 October 1998

The Commonwealth Secretary-General, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, today announced a programme of technical assistance to support the transition to democracy in Nigeria.

General Abdulsalami Abubakar, Nigeria's Head of State, announced in July 1998 a transition programme to civilian rule. It included the election of Local Government Councils on 5 December 1998, the election of State Assemblies and State Governors on 9 January 1999, the election of members of the Federal House of Representatives and of the Federal Senate on 20 February 1999, and the election of the President on 27 February 1999.

Seven senior Commonwealth electoral experts will work with Nigeria's Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the areas of planning, management and training for the four-stage election. The move follows consultations between the Commonwealth Secretariat and the INEC.

A logistics expert from the Indian Electoral Commission, Mr A S Sarangi, is due to arrive in Nigeria this week for three months to work with the INEC on logistics planning and management.  Four experts in election training will help to conduct a nationwide 'training-of-trainers' programme to be held in Nigeria in early November. Later, two senior electoral managers from Commonwealth electoral commissions will participate in a three-day seminar for INEC Commissioners.

Announcing the team, Chief Anyaoku said, "This practical assistance will make a tangible contribution to the transition to democracy in Nigeria. In addition to recent high-level Ministerial and diplomatic contacts, this marks an important step in the process of full normalisation of relations between the Commonwealth and Nigeria."

The Commonwealth team will comprise the following:

Dr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan (Ghana)
Chairman, Electoral Commission of Ghana

Mr Patrick Bradley (Britain)
Chief Electoral Officer, Northern Ireland

Mr Charles Danvers (Jamaica)
Assistant Director of Elections

Ms Joycelyn Lucas (Trinidad and Tobago)
Former Chief Election Officer

Mr Ardhendu Shekhar Sarangi (India)
Chief Electoral Officer, State of Orissa

Ms Judy Thompson (Canada)
Electoral Expert

Mr David Zamchiya (Zimbabwe)
Former Chairman, Electoral Supervisory Commission of Zimbabwe

 

 

98/76                 26 October 1998

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