Teaching Comparative Government and Politics

Friday, February 12, 2010

Coalition of Democrats for Election Reform in Nigeria

There's a new civil society group in Nigeria. It's so new that it's web site is incomplete. But it's seeking members and sponsors and has an ambitious agenda. The emphasis on Justice Mohammed Uwais' proposals might mean this is the beginning of a lobbying or party-like group.

Uwais is the retired Chief Justice of Nigeria. (As a sidelight, his name has been used by some "419" e-mail scammers.) Uwais was appointed by President Yar'Adua to head the Electoral Reform Committee after the most recent presidential election. That report, submitted at the end of 2008, proposed creating a number of independent agencies to deal with problems of electoral fraud.

Little has happened since. Inertia, people with a stake in maintaining the status quo, and Yar'Adua's absence have contributed to the inaction.

Coalition of Democrats for Eelection Reforms

Coalition of Democrats for Electoral Reforms (CODER) is a grassroots organization established to campaign for reform of the electoral laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

CODER’s main objective is to devise appropriate institutional, legitimate, lawful and democratic means including media campaigns, town hall meetings and rallies, etc… to sensitise, mobilise and educate Nigerians on the desirability of an acceptable electoral system that will guarantee the sanctity of the voters’ choice at all elections; and to produce a draft member bill based on the Justice Mohammed Uwais report on electoral reform which will be presented by CODER to the national assembly.”…

See also (from Daily Independent (Lagos): Coder's Call - That Our Votes May Count

At the recent launch of the Coalition of Democrats for Electoral Reforms (CODER)which took place at the Ladi Kwali Hall, Abuja, the call for Nigerians to rise up to the formidable challenge of conducting free, fair and credible elections took the front burner of national discourse. The event drew the likes of Iroh Dan Musa, Ayo Opadokun, Ghali Na'aba, Aminu Masari, Audu Ogbeh and Bola Tinubu,a testimony to the non-partisan nature of the coalition.

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Labels: elections, Nigeria, politics