Even Supporters of Winners in Nigeria’s Poll Disappointed with Electoral Process - US Diplomats

 

The independent National Electoral Commission has been heavily criticised by two United States diplomats, Ambassador Mark Green and Johnnie Carson over the conduct of last month's election.

 

The diplomats said even Nigerian citizens who supported the winners of the February 25 presidential and National Assembly elections disappointed with the electoral process.

 

In a joint treatise, both envoys, who monitored the elections, insisted that critical lessons must be learnt very fast from the shortcomings of the last polls by Nigerians and Africans, with a view to forestalling such flaws in the future.

 

Writing for the Washington-based President Woodrow Wilson Centre, a United States non-partisan policy forum for tackling global issues through independent research, Green and Carson noted that, among other issues, many polling stations opened late while poll workers reported material shortages.

 

While Green was administrator of the US Agency for International Development, Executive Director of the McCain Institute, US ambassador to Tanzania and four-term House of Representatives member, Carson was ambassador to Nigeria and several other African countries.

 

The ambassadors recalled that on February 25, Nigeria held its presidential election with millions of Nigerians going to the polls for the opportunity to elect their new leader, but noted that the process was fraught with irregularities.

 

The diplomats wrote, “At a time when the world is experiencing a democratic decline, Nigerians stood in line – sometimes for hours – for the chance to have their voices heard.

 

 

They recalled that three days after Election Day, the candidate of ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, was declared president-elect. They stressed that the main opposition parties had now gone to court to challenge the results.

 

According to the envoys, there is a lot of evidence that Africans prefer democratic systems of government to other forms. They explained that in addition, Africans also wanted accountable governance.

 

The diplomats contended that even with improvements over the last decade, governance overall had struggled, “flat lining” across the continent since 2019, a worrying development since it can affect African Union’s Agenda 2063 goals.

 

According to the duo, success for democracy in Nigeria – the biggest economy and largest democracy on the continent – has the potential to inspire democracy in neighbouring countries and across the continent, as Nigeria is one of the most influential countries in Africa – and the world.

 

While much of the world’s attention is “understandably” taken up by headline-grabbing events, such as the Russia/Ukraine conflict and earthquakes in Turkey and Syria, Green and Carson argued that the world could not afford to ignore happenings in Nigeria.

 

They stated, “However, the international community cannot afford to overlook elections – and importantly, democracy – across Africa this year. Case in point, Nigeria: Africa’s most populous country and one of the world’s largest democracies.

The ambassadors noted that US policy toward Nigeria should consistently advocate strong civil society involvement, fortify political parties, implement checks and balances on government officials, and establish strong legislative systems.

 

The US and other international partners, the envoys stressed, must continue to support civil society and the institutions that support democratic principles, and in turn, strengthen democracy.

 

Although the logistical issues associated with the elections disappointed many Nigerians, the ambassadors argued that their continued hope for their country’s democratic system should inspire all.

 

While elections are an important benchmark in democratic development, they said the real work of building democratic institutions happens between elections.

 

According to the ambassadors,  “What happens over the next weeks and months in Nigeria will be vital. It is important that the president-elect prioritises forming an inclusive government that considers the voices and concerns of all Nigerians.

 

The envoys stated that there was no question about the enormous potential that existed in the country and Africa, stressing that the continent can only achieve its full potential if citizens have an opportunity to participate in a democratic process that allows their votes to be cast and their voices to be heard.