1 Apr 2011 20:37 Africa/Lagos
African Union observer mission to Nigeria's 2011 Parliamentary and Presidential elections / Arrival statement
ABUJA, April 1, 2011/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- African Union observer mission to Nigeria's 2011 Parliamentary and Presidential elections / Arrival statement
1. In response to the invitation of the Independent National Electoral
Commission of Nigeria (INEC), H. E. Jean Ping, Chairperson of the African
Union (AU) Commission, dispatched an Observer Mission to Nigeria to
observe the country's National Assembly (House of Representatives and
Senate) and Presidential Elections, which will be conducted on the 2 and 9
April, 2011 respectively
2. The AU Observer Mission is led by Mr. Ahmed Issack Hassan, the
Chairperson of the Interim Independent Electoral Commission of Kenya
(IIEC). The Mission is composed of 40 members drawn from Elections
Management Bodies (EMBs), National Parliaments, the Pan African
Parliament, Ambassadors, eminent persons and members of civil societies
from various African countries. Egypt, Kenya, Malawi and Uganda also
sponsored delegates to the Mission. The Mission is assisted by a team of
technical staff from the AU Commission Headquarters in Addis Ababa.
Ethiopia.
3. The Mission Observers are from Cameroon, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya,
Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Swaziland, Uganda,
Zambia and Zimbabwe.
4. The AU Observer Mission arrived in Nigeria on March 27, 2011 and will
remain in the country until April 13, 2011.
5. The purpose of the Mission is to make an objective, independent and impartial
observation of the National Assembly and Presidential elections. In particular,
the Mission is expected to:
i. Determine whether the National Assembly and Presidential Elections
are conducted in accordance with the country's constitution, electoral
laws, other appropriate laws and the guidelines governing the conduct
of such elections.
ii. Determine whether the election environment is conducive for voters to
participate and exercise their fundamental rights;
iii. Establish whether the participating political parties, agencies and
groups are satisfied with the preparations for and conduct of the
elections;
iv. Evaluate the level of voters' awareness and whether the voters' right to
choose freely and in secrecy are guaranteed, upheld and protected;
v. Identify and record electoral malpractices, if any;
vi. Assess whether the media coverage and conduct are in conformity with
the laid down rules and guidelines;
vii. Evaluate transparency and adequacy of the voting, counting and
collation processes; as well as the announcement of the results; and
viii. Establish whether the results of the elections are a true reflection of
the democratically expressed will of the people of Nigeria.
6. The Mission will be guided by the AU Declaration on the Principle Governing
Democratic Elections in Africa and the 2002 AU Guidelines for Elections
Observation and Monitoring Missions.
7. The Mission is situated at the Ladi Kwali Conference Centre, Tamarind B Room,
Sheraton Hotel, Abuja, the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Source: African Union Commission (AUC)
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