Nigeria: NDI-IRI Announce International Election Observation Mission to Nigeria for February 25 Elections

Abuja — The International Republican Institute (IRI) and the National Democratic Institute (NDI) announce the deployment of a joint global election statement mission (IEOM) to Nigeria. The 40-member delegation, comprised of political and civic leaders, elections gurus, and regional specialists from 20 international locations in Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and North America, obtained accreditation from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to look at the February 25 elections.

The delegation is led by former President of the Republic of Malawi, Her Excellency Dr. Joyce Banda. She can be joined by Ambassador Mark Green, President and CEO of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars; Ambassador Johnnie Carson, former Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of African Affairs on the U.S. Department of State; IRI Board Member Constance Berry Newman, Nonresident Senior Fellow on the Atlantic Council’s Africa Center; NDI Board Member Stacey Abrams, American political chief, lawyer, and voting rights activist; and IRI Board Member Dana White, international coverage and communications advisor.

“We are here to show our support for, and solidarity with Nigerian democrats,” suggested H.E. Joyce Banda. “These elections are of tremendous significance for the country and the region as a whole. I encourage all voters to participate and make their voices heard through the ballot box.”

IRI and NDI have deployed global election statement missions to each and every basic election in Nigeria since its 1999 transition from army to civilian democratic rule. NDI President, Ambassador Derek Mitchell, and IRI President, Dr. Daniel Twining, may also take part within the mission.

“This joint deployment is a testament to the continuous commitment of our organizations to Nigeria’s democracy,” suggested Ambassador Mitchell. “We are honored to support the Nigerian people in this pivotal election, and contribute to the continued strengthening of their country’s electoral processes and democratic institutions.”

“We celebrate the commitment of the Nigerian people to making their voices heard through the democratic political process,” suggested IRI President Twining. “We are here in support of credible, free and fair elections and urge all electoral stakeholders to remain peaceful throughout the election process.”

The mission will conduct a substantive and detailed evaluation of the method in numerous areas, inclusive of election administration, citizen participation, gender and inclusion, election safety, authorized framework, info atmosphere, and political events and campaigning. On Election Day, IRI/NDI will go to polling stations in 20 states throughout all six geopolitical areas of Nigeria to look at the varied features of the elections and the administration of the ballot, inclusive of the opening, voting, tabulation, transmission and publication of outcomes.

This joint IEOM follows two joint pre-election evaluation missions carried out in July and December of 2022. Those missions made recommendations on actions that would enrich the credibility of the upcoming February 25 elections.

NDI and IRI are nonpartisan, nongovernmental organizations that help and strengthen democratic establishments and practices worldwide. The Institutes have collectively noticed greater than 200 elections in greater than 50 international locations over the past 30 years.

The delegation will conduct its movements in accordance with the legal guidelines of Nigeria and the Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation, which was adopted by the United Nations in 2005. The delegation’s work is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).