Nigeria: Publish UWAIS report, says IAP

PUBLISH UWAIS REPORT, SAYS IAP

LAGOS, 5 MARCH 2009: Independent Advocacy Project (IAP) has urged President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua to publish the report of the Justice Muhammadu Uwais Electoral Reforms Panel, set up in 2007 to propose ways for credible elections. The group has also called on the president to reconsider its decision to reverse the recommendation of the Uwais Panel on the appointment of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The Panel had originally recommended that the appointment of INEC chairman be advertised and coordinated by the National Judicial Com-mission (NJC), which will then forward the name of the nominee to the Senate for ratification. However, there have been reports that this particular recommendation will not form part of the draft White Paper submitted to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) by the Michael Aondoakaa Review Committee. The White Paper has been endorsed by FEC.

In a statement released in Lagos today, the good governance group said: ‘The recommendation of the Uwais Panel was premised on the fact that over the years, the influential position of INEC chairman has been seen as an obstacle to the conduct of free and fair elections in the country. The Chairman as the head of the Commission is often seen as doing the bidding of the President, which means that elections have sometimes not reflected the wishes of the Nigerian electorate. This particular recommendation could enhance the independence of the elections at various levels – local, state and federal.

‘May we remind the president that the elections that brought him to power in 2007 were deeply flawed, and the creation of the Uwais Panel was meant to address such flaws. As such, not publishing its report goes against the principle of transparency and accountability, and the decision to reject its key recommendations gives the impression that the Panel was merely set up to give the impression that the president wants to promote genuine electoral reforms, while in reality, he doesn’t.’

IAP works to promote democratic development and the rule of law by promoting accountability and transparency in government, building the capacity of civil society organisations and other establishments to enable them participate meaningfully in the governance process and promoting freedom of speech and of expression.