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P 111518Z APR 07
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RUEHCD/AMCONSUL CIUDAD JUAREZ 0228
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RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ABUJA 000685 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DOE FOR CAROLYN GAY 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV
SUBJECT: NIGERIA: IF ACCREDITATION IS THIS DISORGANIZED... 
 
 
ABUJA 00000685  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
THIS MESSAGE IS SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED.  NOT FOR INTERNET 
DISTRIBUTION. 
 
¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY.  INEC's April 10-11 Abuja accreditation 
briefing for international and domestic observers, clearly 
thrown together with little or no preparation, provided few 
answers and raised more doubt as to INEC's organizational 
capabilities.  Iwu and other INEC officials, while offering 
little concrete information in their presentations, instead 
took the opportunity to chastise observers for not 
understanding the "context of Nigeria" and caution that 
observers are permitted only to watch and report, not to 
interfere.  In response to questions, INEC officials stated 
53 domestic organizations were approved to supply observers, 
among these the umbrella Transition Monitoring Group (TMG) 
organization whom many had feared would not be accredited. 
INEC officials announced that election results will be 
annulled in any location where violence occurs.  As of the 
end of the first day, no clear method for accreditation had 
been explained and confusion reigned.  Mission observers 
received accreditation at noon on April 11, however, many 
groups were still awaiting their accreditation at that time. 
END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2. (SBU) Without notice or invitations, INEC held an 
accreditation briefing for domestic and international 
observers on April 10-11 at the Abuja Hilton.  (NOTE: Post 
learned of the conference late on April 9 through USAID 
partners working closely with INEC.  There were reports that 
one TV station aired an announcement on April 9, though most 
individuals with whom we spoke heard about the briefing 
through word of mouth.)  At the start of the conference, 
poloffs noted numerous NGO representatives desperately 
calling colleagues to let them know of the affair.  An 
agenda, hastily passed to a select few attendees halfway 
through the morning, indicated that the second day of the 
conference will be a repeat of the first, presumably for 
those unable to attend the April 10 portion.  Poloffs spoke 
to no less than six INEC representatives on the morning of 
the first day, but no one could tell us definitively what was 
needed for accreditation or how it would be done.  INEC's 
Director for International Affairs was able to obtain 
accreditation materials for the Mission by noon on April 11; 
however, the venue was full of domestic observers and some 
international groups still awaiting their credentials when 
poloff arrived to pick up Mission credentials. 
 
¶3. (SBU) INEC Chairman Maurice Iwu, in a presentation to the 
assembled observers, ran down a scorecard on elections 
preparations -- giving the INEC a 100 percent.  He maintained 
that INEC had accredited "every credible organization" as 
observers and cautioned international organizations that "not 
all that claim to be civil society organizations and NGOs 
actually are."  Iwu also informed observers that the INEC 
would set up five hotlines in each state and ten in Abuja for 
observers and the general public to call in and report 
problems.  The hotline numbers are not yet set up, however, 
and Iwu was not able to give specifics.  Chairman of the INEC 
Election Monitoring and Observation Committee (EMOC) 
Ekpenyong Nsa gave a brief presentation titled "Election 
Observation in Nigeria," which contained no information on 
the elections, but rather focused on chastising observers for 
not understanding the Nigerian context and provided 
background on the population, land area, climate, geography 
and national holidays of Nigeria. 
 
¶4. (SBU) The presentations were followed by an interactive 
Q&A session, in which INEC officials listened to several 
questions and then answered a select few.  This was the only 
portion of the briefing where election procedures and 
policies were discussed.  Officials noted that TMG, an 
umbrella organization made up of approximately 200 NGOs and 
civil society groups and funded by USAID partners, was among 
the 53 organizations approved for accreditation.  As well, 
EMOC Chairman Nsa told observers election results will be 
nullified in any location where violence occurs.  Other items 
of note include: 
 
-- Voters who appear at polling stations without either a 
temporary or permanent voter registration card will not be 
 
ABUJA 00000685  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
allowed to vote.  Officials maintained voters who did not 
receive temporary cards upon registration should report 
before the elections to their ward elections officer to 
receive their permanent cards.  (COMMENT. This instruction 
was given at the briefing only.  Poloffs are not aware of any 
public information campaigns educating the public on this 
procedure.  Given that contacts in some areas have reported 
large percentages of registrants receiving no card or receipt 
due to malfunctioning printers, there could be significant 
numbers turned away on election day. END COMMENT.) 
 
-- All election results other than Presidential will be 
announced by the INEC Returns Officer at the highest level of 
collation (i.e., State Returns Officers will announce 
governors, Ward Returns Officers will announce Ward delegates 
to the State Assemblies, etc.).  Only INEC Returns Officers 
are authorized to announce results.  No announcements may be 
made by television, radio or other sources.  INEC Chairman 
Iwu will announce the winner of the Presidential election. 
 
-- The number of polling stations will remain 120,000 (as in 
2003).  Polling sites will be at the same locations as 2003. 
If a polling site has grown to more than 750 people since the 
2003 elections, "baby units" will be set up at the polling 
site to handle the extra people. 
 
-- Results will be transmitted to Abuja both in hard copy and 
electronically (using GSM cellular technology and the 
internet). 
 
-- Individuals will not be permitted to remain in the polling 
stations after voting.  No one will be permitted to "loiter" 
within 300 meters of the polling station.  When asked about 
campaigns urging voters to remain at polling stations to 
"protect their vote," Nsa chastised, "you must learn to trust 
us." 
 
-- Polling stations will be open from 8am to 3pm, with all 
voters who arrive at the station prior to 3pm being permitted 
to vote. 
 
-- INEC claims to have "looked through" the voters register 
to weed out underage and multiple registrants.  These 
individuals have been placed on an alternate list and will be 
required to show proof of age or identity.  (COMMENT. There 
is no national ID card and no information was given on how 
these individuals will prove either age or identity. END 
COMMENT.) 
CAMPBELL