A joint delegation from the US-based International Republican Institute (IRI) and National Democratic Institute (NDI) visited Nigeria on the 17th December 2018, to conduct what it called an “Assessment of the pre-election arrangements and preparations for the forthcoming general elections.” The assessment visits which are the third this year are in line with the mission delegation’s worldwide work to strengthen electoral processes and offer support towards “Nigerian efforts to make the 2019 elections participatory, transparent and credible.”
The leader of the American delegation, Ambassador Linda-Thomas Greenfield, revealed that during the course of the visit, they met and held discussions with the media, civil society organisations, and political parties. She pointed out that during the deliberations, concerns were expressed about “fears about security agencies being partisan in the forthcoming elections, suspected non-commitment to free and fair elections by key stakeholders, delayed budget for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and the non-signing of the new Electoral Bill.”
The delegation’s visit also included a meeting with the incumbent President during which the latter assured them of: “A level-playing field for all contestants, even his rival, into political offices in next year’s elections.” He added that: “The heads of security agencies have been told not to display partisanship and to do their work professionally, and allow the will of the people to prevail.”
The assessment of pre-election environment is the Third joint international delegation visit to Nigeria. Both institutes which have a robust history of monitoring elections in over sixty countries, have sent international election observers to all the general elections in Nigeria since the 1999 transition from military to civilian rule.
It will be recalled that the First and Second joint pre-election assessment visits took place in July and September 2018, respectively. During the Second visit, the delegation issued a statement noting that: “This visit builds upon and reinforces the findings of IRI and NDI’s First pre-election assessment mission and notes improvements made by electoral stakeholders in enhancing the electoral environment as well as continuing challenges and concerns for democratic elections in 2019.”