NIGERIA 6 Feb 2010 Questions over Anambra state gubernatorial election

The gubernatorial poll in Anambra state is viewed as a test case for President Umaru Yar'Adua electoral reform plans, but his prolonged absence threatens the election, the reforms and democracy in Africa's most populous country. He promised the reforms following his win in 2007 in elections marred by allegations of fraud. Though allegedly flawed, the election was hailed as milestone, marking the first civilian-to-civilian transfer of power in Nigeria's history.

The president, gravely ill, has been hospitalized for weeks in Saudi Arabia. A power vacuum and political crisis threaten if he does not return soon to his country. There are doubts he handed over the reins to Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan before he left.

Several disputes have been left hanging in the president's absence. One involves the Independent National Electoral Commission (Inec). The BBC reports that Nigeria's cabinet has rejected reforms that would have empowered the judiciary to pick the chairman and board members of the electoral commission. The president's cabinet insists he should retain those powers.

In the BBC report, Emmanuel Ezeazu of the Alliance for Credible Elections predicted a "terrible effect" on democracy if the head of Inec continued to be appointed by the president. "During the last elections Inec acted as an extension of the People's Democratic Party [the ruling party in both houses of the legislature]," he said. Jan/10

RELATED READING:

Nigeria election reform U-turn (BBC 12 Mar 2009)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7939139.stm

Is Nigerian President Yar'Adua dead? (CSM 11 Jan 2010)
http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Africa/2010/0111/Is-Nigerian-president-Yar-Adua-dead-His-absence-may-spark-political-crisis