Nigerian Elections 2011: Embracing an Historic Opportunity for Democracy

Nigerian Elections 2011: Embracing an Historic Opportunity for Democracy

On April 9, 2011, Nigeria held the first of a series of
elections that will impact the direction of Africa’s most populous country and
second-largest economy, and set the course for the future of democracy in
sub-Saharan Africa. What we have seen so far in West Africa this year is
promising – peaceful and credible elections in Burkina Faso, Benin and Niger,
and the triumph of democracy over dictatorship in Cote d’Ivoire. Some forty
years ago, I began my first tour as a newly-minted Foreign Service Officer in
Lagos. Arriving just seven years after its independence, the Nigeria I found
was one locked in a brutal civil war with an uncertain future. I am proud of
Nigeria’s achievements over the last decades, and its role as a leader in
Africa and the world.

On April 9, I observed along with 17 other US Embassy and
Consulate teams, Nigeria’s National Assembly elections. We were heartened by
what we saw. In sharp contrast to its elections of 2007, Nigeria was
demonstrating that it can hold credible elections that allow the Nigerian
people a meaningful opportunity to elect their leaders. Together with US
Ambassador Terence McCulley, I visited polling stations in the Federal Capital
Territory and adjacent Nassarawa and Kaduna States. I was struck by how well
Nigeria’s civil society and the democratic institutions worked together and the
broad- based and enthusiastic participation of Nigerian citizens exercising
their right to choose their leaders. The commitment and professionalism of the
young people of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) who performed
extraordinarily well in carrying out their important work is an encouraging
sign of Nigeria’s bright future. I also saw the incredible dedication of
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chair Attahiru Jega, who
remained steadfast in pulling off the round despite the initial false-start on
April 2. Deemed a “general success” despite delayed delivery of election
materials, the presence of “under-age” voters, and some incidents of violence,
Nigeria has the chance to do even better by holding a fairer, freer, and more
peaceful Presidential election on April 16. I urge election and security
officials to build upon this foundation for an even stronger and more peaceful
showing on April 16 and April 26.

Times are changing. Social media played an important role in
this cooperation. INEC and voters exchanged messages via Short Messaging
Service (SMS) texts, Twitter, and Facebook, with camera images sent from
cellular telephones, all to promote a more transparent process, to verify
adherence to correct procedures, and to alert authorities and the media to
potential challenges. This Saturday, I will join Nigerians in watching
@inecnigeria and @swiftcount on Twitter as they transparently work towards a
credible election process.

Democracy is important to all of us. No one person or any single
electoral event can transform an entrenched political culture. Sadly, this past
weekend, some opponents of democracy tried to derail the process by resorting
to thuggery and violence. Political intimidation and violence have no place in
a democratic society. As we move forward, Nigeria’s political leaders – and
those who aspire to lead – must refrain from inflammatory rhetoric or acts of
intimidation. Any election violence is unacceptable, as it casts a shadow over
the entire electoral process. The United States not only condemns violence and
intimidation, but we are prepared to take appropriate measures against those
individuals who violate basic democratic norms, as we have done in places such
as Cote d’Ivoire, Zimbabwe, and Madagascar..

The 2011 Presidential, National Assembly, Gubernatorial, and
State Assembly elections provide an historic opportunity for Nigeria to become
a model for the rest of Africa and the world, especially for those citizens
demanding democracy in their countries. All Africans deserve smooth, peaceful,
transparent, and credible elections. The conduct of the first round of
elections indicates that Nigeria is ready to be that example. We stand with the
Nigerian people in seeking free, fair, and credible elections and I challenge
all Nigerians to work together with even more patience and determination this
weekend to produce leaders elected by the Nigerian people.

Johnnie Carson is the U.S.
Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs

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