2015 elections: US empowers observer groups

THE United States of America said it has started building the capacities of the Nigerian indigenous civil society organizations as monitors and observers for the 2015 general elections in Nigeria.

This was disclosed yesterday in Abuja by the US Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. James F. Entwistle during a press briefing with members the US delegations who are in the country to have bilateral discussions with the government of Nigeria in the on- going partnership with government and people of Nigeria.

“We are not in the best position to disclose how much we would be spending on the 2015 elections, but we are working with the election commission, civil societies. I believe that the way the US is doing it, we are building up indigenous organizations that are working to ensure credible elections in Nigeria by building strong election observer groups that are going to observe the elections,” the envoy explained.

He reiterated that they have a long standing partnership with INEC and promised to sustain the partnership as towards the 2015 elections. It said the partnership is not just with the INEC, but also the US is working with the civil society groups, political parties and external groups to make sure that the whole process is monitored .

Assistant Secretary, Bureau of African Affairs, Linda ThomasGreenfield, said their visit was a follow up to the September meeting between Presidents Barack Obama and Goodluck Jonathan.

“As 2015 approaches, we are also supporting the cooperation for the national election. We want to help to ensure that Nigeria has free, fair and credible elections that reflect the will of the people.