The Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room has congratulated Nigerian voters for coming out to vote in elections held on March 28, 2015. The group, which monitored the election in different parts of Nigeria, stated that the election “represents a victory for democracy and the right of the people of Nigeria to determine who rules them.” In a statement issued today, the Situation Group said last weekend’s election demonstrated Nigerians’ “determination to exercise their democratic right despite several logistical challenges, delays and attempts by some politicians to frustrate the process.”
Congratulating President-elect Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the group urged him to move Nigeria “away from its present economic and political crisis and on to the path of recovery.” It noted that Mr. Buhari would be assuming office amid several challenges, “including socio-economic downturn, rising poverty, insecurity and insurgency, unprecedented corruption and declining infrastructure. The President-elect should take steps to re-unify the country and heal the wounds of a very divisive campaign largely fought along ethnic, religious and regional lines.”
Situation Room called on the president-elect “to work for the common good of all of the Nigerian people, especially the poor and vulnerable sectors of the population. Civic groups will continue its work in defense of the democratic and human rights of all Nigerians and will hold the in-coming government to account, in line with constitutionally guaranteed rights entrenched under our laws and internationally recognized standards of good governance.”
The group praised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) “for conducting a credible election despite the challenges encountered.” It called on the electoral body to correct anomalies identified in last weekend’s election prior to the second and final set of elections, for governorships and state legislative bodies. Those elections are scheduled for April 11.
Situation Room asked INEC to address “issues associated with the card readers which should be used for the April 11 elections. The use of PVCs and card readers will need to be implemented in a more effective manner to ensure credible state level elections on April 11.”
The group commended the Nigeria police for working towards “the peaceful and orderly conduct of the elections,” adding that “all arms of the security services must work professionally and in a non-partisan manner to ensure the peaceful conduct” of the April 11 elections.
It congratulated President Goodluck Jonathan “for his statesmanship in conceding defeat and congratulating President-elect Muhammadu Buhari,” imploring “Nigerians and political actors to continue to be restrained and ensure that there is no violence and that peace and calm prevails in the country.”