REPORT OF THE NIGERIA CIVIL SOCIETY ELECTION SITUATION ROOM PLANNING MEETING ON ANAMBRA STATE GOVERNORSHIP ELECTION AND THE 2015 GENERAL ELECTIONS. HELD ON TUESDAY, 5TH NOVEMBER 2013 AT PROTEA HOTEL, APO APARTMENTS, ABUJA.

OUTCOME DOCUMENT

BACKGROUND

Members of the Nigerian Civil Society Election Situation Room convened in Abuja, at the Protea Hotel, Apo Apartments on 5^th November 2013 to review civil society preparations for the observation of the Anambra State Governorship elections slated for 16^th November 2013. It was planned that the meeting would provide an opportunity for participating organisations in the Situation Room to review information on the preparations for the Anambra State Governorship elections and how best to organise its observation.

The meeting was also aimed at providing participating organisations the opportunity to begin a larger discussion on strengthening the role and effectiveness of the Situation Room (SR) in positioning to play a critical and vital role ahead of the 2015 general elections. The gathering also intended to come up with a Plan of Action leading to the 2015 general elections.

OPENING:

• The meeting was opened with remarks by Prof Adele Jinaidu of the Department of Political Science, University of Lagos who advised that the meeting should be an open meeting starting with discussions on programs and activities to strengthen SR and expand its focus, coverage and activities.
• He noted that the 2011 SR was very effective and discussions should centre on what needs to be done in the 16^th November elections in Anambra and generally during the 2015 elections.
• The critical issues to be taken into consideration were the emergence of the new political parties and the proposed National Conference vis a vis their limitations in the upcoming elections.

COMMENTS/OBSERVATIONS:

After extensive deliberations on the programs and activities to strengthen the SR, the following comments and observations were made by participants:

• Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) need to re-strategise their involvement in monitoring domestic elections so as to make their reports and recommendations effective. It is important that CSO leaders be present at the elections so that reports from the elections can be authentic and authoritative.
• Some participants were of the opinion that election observation reports needs to be used more effectively to impact on the electoral system.
• CSOs have lost the edge of speaking collectively in one voice, and a resounding call was made for the massive expansion on what CSOs should do and their point of intervention.
• There should be a synergy between CSOs so as to strengthen linkages and partnerships amongst CSOs.
• CSOs have been silent on electoral reforms. There is the need for CSOs to decide on how to move ahead with the Electoral Reforms Committee (ERC) recommendations.
• SR should take a critical look at the visible security threats in the country and the possibility of the elections not holding in certain parts of the country.

• CSOs should move away from the traditional monitoring and move towards something forensic i.e the use of data as well as strengthen their technological support and work on the maximum utilization of the social media for information dissemination.
• There is need to determine accuracy of or quality of information gotten from the field during any elections.
• The need to draw examples from the successful SR’s in other countries such as Senegal and Liberia and the outcome of their elections. Although these examples were described as large operations in small countries, it was agreed that they could serve as learning opportunities for the SR in Nigeria, where the concept was pioneered.
• The youth have not been engaged sufficiently by SR in this process.
• Security concerns during the voting exercise for women, pregnant women and people with disability were raised.
• In 2015, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) will focus on electoral impunity and electoral violence. NHRC would like to create a SR than can interface with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and this SR i.e. complementary efforts.
• Participants were urged to see the potential of SR as a way of getting political parties to make commitment against election violence.
• SR needs to link into INEC’s Citizen’s Contact Centre (ICCC).

CRITICISMS OF THE SITUATION ROOM:

Some of the criticisms of the SR by participants were:

• That SR is episodic in nature with an overemphasis on the Election Day and does not take into consideration pre-election activities.
• SR has a disconnect from community based organisations and there is a need to deepen the roots of SR by involving communities as well as tap into faith based and community based organizations to sustain medium to long term engagement.
• It has a poor database and needs to expand what currently exists.
• SR does not cover the Senatorial elections and needs to spread its coverage to the Senatorial elections as dynamics have changed since the 2001 elections till now.

DEVELOPMENT OF A STRATEGY FOR OBSERVING ANAMBRA GOVERNORSHIP ELECTIONS:

• There was a general consensus that it was a bit too late in the day to take into consideration most of the criticisms of the SR before the Anambra elections, however it was agreed that arrival at Anambra will be earlier than scheduled.
• That a Field Manual for the Observers for the Governorship elections in Anambra was necessary.
• There were a lot of discussions on whether CSOs were going in as Observers or Monitors. It was agreed that CSOs at this stage could not be just Observers but also Monitors and Partners in the process.
• The online platform will have to be popularised so that people are aware of where to go for up to date and credible information.
• SR should hold a meeting with the voters in Anambra and the accredited organisations in the State that are already on ground.
• SR should have the location of all the polling units, the number of people registered etc.

• INEC’s view is to ensure that election goes on as smoothly as possible. They have people on ground and have the contact numbers of every presiding officer available. They also require the contacts of all Observers.
• INEC has also provided a phone number for verification of voter’s registration: 08171646879.
• Instant communication is key and SR would be relying on the support of communication savvy groups in this regard.

RECOMMENDATIONS/ACTION PLAN:

As 2015 approaches:

• SR needs to constantly meet and update the public on the election process.
• SR has to rework its architecture that will enable it have a wider coverage. This architecture should be one with personnel that can handle the 2015 elections.
• SR needs to create a framework for a new design of the SR beginning with what it seeks to achieve. This framework should also incorporate the need for policy and research, a strong technology platform, security and logistics, knowledge sharing and networking amongst CSOs as well as administration.
• SR will begin to take a key interest in as well as monitor what the National Assembly is doing in respect of electoral reforms.
• A strategic group was put together in line with the recommendation of reworking SR’s architecture:

1. Prof Adele Jinaidu;
2. Victoria Ohaeri;
3. Yemi Adamolekun;
4. Kemi Asiwaju;
5. Ezenwa Nwagwu;
6. Festus Okoye;
7. Stephen Orji;
8. Tunji Lardner; and
9. Clement Nwankwo.

The group had a separate meeting and in addition to the above comments, observations and recommendations, the group also made the following:

• PLAC gave the group a short briefing on the preparations for the Anambra State elections. The names of 45 people have been presented to INEC and Identity cards may be presented here in Abuja or upon arrival in Anambra State.
• They have also informed the hotel of an advance party starting Wednesday, 13^th November 2013 and made arrangements for about 5 cars for the team.
• The need to coordinate Policemen from Force Headquarters for protection of the team of Observers in Anambra.
• SR will be working closely with CLEEN Foundation who is deploying about 65 persons as monitors in the Anambra State election.
• PLAC is to circulate a definitive information statement comprising accommodation, contact numbers and other necessary logistics in respect of the election in Anambra State.
• The need to link with the local people on ground upon arrival in Anambra State.
• SR will give a press conference upon arrival in Anambra State, which is to be scheduled for Thursday, 14^th November 2013.
• Some of the areas of conflict flagged for the Anambra elections are the Voter’s Registration and the use of cultists by a gubernatorial candidate.
• The SR # for the Anambra election is #SRAnambravotes.
• The SR team was encouraged to be in Anambra before Wednesday, 13^th November 2013 in time for the stakeholders meeting holding on Wednesday in Awka.
• SR should make arrangements to get a business number from MTN that will serve as SR’s hotline. CLEEN Foundation has also offered to include this number in their upcoming Advert in the national newspaper.
• SR will have an information room to bridge online/offline information that will arrive at a consensus and verify the credibility of such information received. SR will also feed off the resource from CLEEN’s call centre in Anambra.

• Real time response is what is expected in Anambra, SR would issue a statement instantly in event of any threats.
• The online blog should have credible information and a list of the partner CSOs in SR.

• The group has to come up with a document in terms of expanding the participation of SR in the next 2 years and identify what each CSO does to enable the group come up with its own map.
• For any impact to be made in 2015, there should be an engagement of people at various levels and not just at the state and national levels.
• It is obvious that there is a weakening in the man side engagement of CSOs and there is a need to challenge the government agencies.
• The traditional media i.e Television, radio etc can be circumvented by creating a virtual SR online.
• SR needs to advocate for INEC and the work it does because it is important that it survives the political process.
• As a precursor to the monthly meetings, the team needs to present an evidence based critique of INEC’s plan and raise the issues in a meeting with the Chairman and other senior officials of INEC.
• Anambra State elections will be a test run for a blue print for the other 35 states in terms of integrating various technological platforms and networking amongst CSOs.
• CSOs were encouraged to nominate or suggest other names for the group particularly people from the Northern part of Nigeria and the South-South.
• The team is to converge again in Awka during the Anambra elections.
• Conversation should be started online in terms of further discussions on the feasibility of the expansion of the role of SR and a framework for its administration.

The meeting attracted about 70 participants from Civil Society Organisations, INEC, donor partners and other stakeholders.