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By Luminous Jannamike
ABUJA (APUJA) – Two US political institutes on Wednesday expressed concern over continued insecurity in Nigeria and perceived lack of neutrality by security forces voter turnout and confidence in the outcome of next year's general election.
Amendment of the electoral law: Atiku, Adeniran, Ozekhome, Buhari fault
The National Democratic Institute (NDI) and the International Republican Institute (IRI), based in the United States, have expressed their fears in Abuja by unveiling the report of their third joint pre-election badessment mission to Nigeria .
Linda Thomas-Greenfield, Senior Delegate of the Joint Assessment Team, said: "The delegation noted the positive efforts made to organize more transparent, accountable and open elections, but confidence in the process and the result of the elections could still be undermined.
"Irresponsible political rhetoric threatens to weaken public confidence in Nigeria's electoral institutions and incite violence. Widespread concerns about vote buying, illegal voting and efforts to compromise the secrecy of voting on polling day could lead to rejection of election results or post-election violence.
"In addition, given the persistent insecurity in Nigeria, perceived lack of neutrality by security forces could undermine voter turnout and confidence in the outcome of elections, despite badurances to the contrary ".
Thomas-Greenfield, former Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, said the pre-election delegation had heard Nigerians express their strong commitment to democracy and continued efforts to improve the country's electoral process.
In this context, she said that if the 2019 general elections became credible and peaceful, they could further consolidate the country's democratic institutions and Nigeria would continue to serve as an example to the African continent.
The main delegate also warned: "However, if the polls are not considered sufficiently transparent, accountable and inclusive by Nigerians or if they are tainted by violence, it could undermine previous democratic gains, erode the democratic system. units of confidence of Nigerians and threaten democratic progress. the region."
She added that although previous elections have been difficult, significant improvements in 2011 and 2015 have raised high expectations for the quality of the 2019 electoral process.
"The presidential and governor elections, in particular, should be contested closely. More than 70 candidates will compete for the highest office in the country, including incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressive Congress (APC), former vice president Atiku Abubakar of the Democratic People's Party (PDP), several new candidates for election. position of president, including women. presidential candidates, "she said.
In addition, another member of the delegation, Lewis Lucke, urged the Independent Electoral Commission, INEC, to ensure that its guidelines for the 2019 elections are in line with the existing legal framework and to share them widely with political parties. and observers.
He called on the security forces to do their utmost to ensure the public's professionalism and neutrality.
He also called on political parties and their candidates to abide by codes of conduct and promises of peace, including the Abuja Agreement of 2018.
Lucke, former US ambbadador to Swaziland, said: "Negotiations and signing agreements are just the first step. political parties and their candidates must also hold their members and supporters accountable for the violations committed.
"Political parties and candidates should also conduct problem-based campaigns, refrain from openly using and condemning tactics that incite violence, such as hate speech and misinformation; and actively discourage voter incentives, such as the purchase of votes and other coercive tactics.
"All candidates must publicly commit to respecting the election result and to resolving election disputes in court. This commitment will reduce tensions in the run-up to elections and deter violence when election results are counted and made public. "
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