2011 Nigeria National Elections
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Appendix A: First Pre-Election Assessment Mission, October 11–15, 2010
(organized by NDI)
NDI Delegation Finds Encouraging Developments and Significant Hurdles as Nigeria
Prepares for 2011 Elections
October 15, 2010
Abuja, Nigeria
– Noting heightened interest and determination among Nigerians to overcome the
nation's history of flawed elections, a pre-election assessment mission conducted by the National
Democratic Institute (NDI) also identified a number of hurdles that could undermine a successful
process surrounding next year's state and national polls.
“There is a deepening sense of the need to change the approach to elections in Nigeria,” the
delegation said in a statement released at a press conference here today. "Many political actors
expressed concern that the legacy of flawed elections has a negative impact on Nigeria's political and
economic development, as well as its standing in the world."
The statement reflected the findings of the pre-election assessment mission, which was conducted in
Nigeria from Oct. 11-15 and was composed of political and civic leaders and democracy and
election experts from Africa, Asia and North America. It was co-led by Sir Ketumile Masire, former
president of Botswana, and the Right Honorable Joe Clark, former prime minister of Canada.
"The delegation observed that while many Nigerians are determined to actively participate in the
2011 elections, they are fearful that verbal commitments to electoral reform may not translate into
concrete actions. The delegation found a sense of urgency among Nigerians to see demonstrable
steps in election preparation," the statement said.
But the delegation highlighted problems that it said could undermine a successful election process,
including delayed agreement on the legal framework for the election, security and policing
throughout the electoral process, and the efficiency of Independent National Electoral Commission
(INEC) organs at the local government, constituency and ward levels.
The delegation also pointed to continuing uncertainty over when the election will actually be held as
the national assembly considers whether to postpone the polls from January to April 2011. This
"continuing uncertainty surrounding the electoral timetable could render planning even more
difficult for all electoral stakeholders and potentially diminish the enthusiasm of potential voters,"
the delegation said.
It also noted that "a cardinal aspect of the electoral process, voter registration, has yet to begin" for
the estimated voting age population of 70 million. "Many Nigerians worry that the logistical and
capacity challenges associated with INEC's plans to develop a new, electronically-based voter
register could further delay the registration process," the statement said. As Nigeria's election
preparations move forward, the delegation issued a number of recommendations. They included:
