Session I: Election Administration Accomplishments
and Challenges

Keynote Address:

Dr. Attahiru Jega

Chairman of the Independent
National Electoral Commission of Nigeria

With remarks from:

Dr. Christopher Fomunyoh

NDI Senior Associate for Africa

Dr. Peter M. Lewis

Director of the SAIS African Studies Program

Session II: Observer Findings and Analyses

Panelists:

Carlo Binda

NDI Nigeria Senior Resident Director

Dr. Gwendolyn Mikell

Georgetown University Professor of Anthropology and Foreign Service

Richard L. Klein

NDI Senior Advisor for Election Processes

Eric Guttschuss

Nigeria researcher at Human Rights Watch

Jennifer Cooke

Director of the CSIS Africa Program

Moderated by:

Dr. Pauline Baker

President Emeritus at The Fund for Peace

Nigeria’s April 2011 elections represented a step forward from the seriously flawed elections of the past and hold the promise of new standards for integrity in Nigeria’s electoral process. Many domestic and international observer missions have commended the leadership of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the conduct of the security forces, citizen election observers and millions of voters who waited patiently to cast ballots and see them counted on election day. But, the polls also revealed persistent challenges and logistical problems that should be addressed to enhance the credibility of future elections. Furthermore, tensions in the wake of the presidential election led to serious incidents of violence in the northern part of the country.

During this event, INEC Chairman Dr. Attahiru Jega discussed the accomplishments and challenges faced by the electoral commission. Nonpartisan analysts, all of whom were in Nigeria during the elections, shared views of the electoral process and its potential impact on the consolidation of democratic governance in Africa’s most populous country.