2015 elections: US wants Nigeria as Africa model

US Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Samantha Power, made the call yesterday in Abuja during a meeting with a group of civil societies organisations.“In just over a year, you will all participate in another presidential election, which we hope is an opportunity for the voices of 70 million voters to be heard. Between […]

US Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Samantha Power, made the call yesterday in Abuja during a meeting with a group of civil societies organisations.
“In just over a year, you will all participate in another presidential election, which we hope is an opportunity for the voices of 70 million voters to be heard. Between now and then, the world will be watching to see that the coming local and state elections are well-administered, transparent, and credible,” he said.
He added that the US noted with concern the irregularities in last month’s gubernatorial election in Anambra, and that they will follow closely next summer’s contests in Ekiti and Osun States.
The envoy added that: “The 2015 election will draw global attention and can, if you push hard enough; prove a model for all of Africa, if they are free, fair, and transparent.”
Power also noted efforts of the civil societies organisations in Nigeria have tirelessly advocated for increasing the credibility of elections and citizens’ participation in the electoral process.
He also expressed concern on the problem of insurgency in Nigeria pointing out that “in responding to these attacks it is essential that we do so consistent with the most fundamental of international human rights norms.”
While applauding the civil societies in Nigeria, he mentioned that the United States has developed some new platforms of engaging with them in Nigeria.
For example, he said, the US have a multi-year project designed to reduce the potential for violence in the Niger Delta explaining that recently it started accepting applications for the next round of President Obama’s Young African Leaders Initiative, which will bring more than 500 men and women from across Africa to the United States for training and coursework in its educational institutions.