THE United States (U.S.) government and the European Union (EU) have asked Nigeria to do all that is needful to prevent a repeat of the hitches that marred last Saturday's National Assembly elections.
President Barack Obama, who said he is eager to see Nigeria conduct free and fair polls tomorrow and the subsequent exercises, warned that his administration would not accept rigged elections in Nigeria.
To have an accurate report and proper briefing on the conduct of the National Assembly polls, Obama is sending one of his administration's most senior officials on African Affairs to observe the rescheduled election.
The Guardian learnt yesterday that because of what U.S. government notes as a massive turn-out last Saturday by Nigerians for the polls, American Assistant Secretary for African Affairs Johnnie Carson has been ordered by both Obama and the Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, to travel to Nigeria today and return on Monday, two days after the conclusion of the federal legislature's elections.
The EU, through its Elections Observer Group, urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to keep to the rules and deliver to the people credible polls.
Head of the team, and former Prime Minister of Slovenia, Mr. Alloys Peterly, said this in Abuja yesterday during a visit to the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Headquarters in company of election analyst, Mrs. Margaretta Alives.
In a statement late on Wednesday in Washington DC, the State Department said Carson "will travel to Nigeria April 8-11 to observe the country's National Assembly elections scheduled for Saturday April 9."
U.S. sources say Carson's trip, which was not planned as at last week when the polls were originally intended to hold, is an indication that the Obama administration is keen on a successful conduct of the exercise.
Carson was quoted in another State Department statement as saying that "our government will not turn a blind eye to a repeat of the political violence and wholesale electoral theft that took place in 2007," signifying U.S. government's readiness to respond critically if this year's elections were rigged.
For instance, Carson warned that the U.S. would take "appropriate measures" against "individuals who violate basic democratic norms," just as it had done with leaders and officials in Côte d'Ivoire, Zimbabwe and Madagascar.
He said any violence perpetrated against voters or candidates would be unacceptable and "casts a dark shadow over the entire electoral process."
Carson, an African veteran in the U.S. Foreign Service, was the first international dignitary to meet President Goodluck Jonathan when he was declared the acting president by the National Assembly last year.
He said: "If Nigeria's current elections are not a significant improvement over the 2007 polls and if they do not meet the expectations of a majority of Nigerians, the citizens will lose confidence in their leaders, their democratic institutions and the capacity of the country to sustain a democratic trajectory in the future."
Free and fair polls in Nigeria, he noted, will help to build a positive democratic trajectory, stressing that America believes "Nigeria has an historic opportunity to allow her people the opportunity to elect their local, state and national representatives in a climate free of violence and intimidation. We hope that opportunity will not be lost."
Emphasising that the Obama administration is closely monitoring the country's political environment, the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State said reports indicating that a significant number of Nigerians peacefully turned out to vote April 2 offer "a positive indication of their democratic aspirations."
He encouraged "Nigerians to exercise their rights as citizens to vote and to have their votes counted openly and transparently."
Also in Abuja yesterday, American Ambassador to Nigeria, Terence McCulley, held his first people dialogue on democracy and good governance. .
McCulley said the "Giant of West Africa" has much of which to be proud. But the time has now come for Nigeria to take the next step to achieve its potential by embracing democracy fully and cementing in place the institutions, practices, and values of democratic governance. Free, fair, and credible elections are an important part of that process.
"Democracy, however, is more than a formal counting of votes, and both Nigerians and the international community will judge the quality of this election by more than what happens on election day. Democracy is also about the freedom of all parties to campaign, to meet with supporters, to appeal to new voters, and to deliver political messages to the electorate. Democracy is about sharing ideas and stimulating open public discussion on the future of one's country. Democracy is about upholding principles that are greater than any individual and respecting the will of those who confer democratic legitimacy: The people of Nigeria."
On his part, Peterly said the EU group of 140 observers had been interacting with Nigerians at the grassroots as part its commitment to monitoring pre-election procedures in the country.
He commended the people for their warmth and eagerness to ensure that the electoral process goes smoothly, explaining that the EU observers had been posted to the 36 states of the federation and had the responsibility to observe pre-election, the election and post-polls' procedures.
"I feel very safe here. My team has been welcomed everywhere in Nigeria. I visited nine polling units in Lagos, I saw only peaceful behaviour and nice people. They always said we were welcome. This is a nice feeling.
"The people expressed their enthusiasm for the elections. A lot were willing to vote for the first time because they had the belief that the elections will be free and fair. We expect that these expectations would be met as promised. Let elections be held according to your own rules", he said, adding that the EU was not in the country to impose its own rules but to observe and ensure that Nigeria follows the process of elections.
The NYSC Director General, Brig.-Gen. Muharazu Tsiga, said the scheme was established 37 years ago, among other things, to promote national unity, integration, uphold dignity of labour and self-reliance. The collaboration with INEC, on elections, he said, started in 2007.
The 2011 voters' registration, he said, wouldn't have been as successful as it was but for the dedicated youth corps members who saw the work as part of their service to the nation. He assured of credible elections, as he solicited the EU's partnership with the agency.
Source: We won't accept rigging of Nigeria polls, says U.S. (http://www.guardiannewsngr.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=44141:we-wont-accept-rigging-of-nigeria-polls-says-us&catid=1:national&Itemid=559)