PACT NIGERIA AND NIGERIA CIVIL SOCIETY LAUNCH

“STICK TO THE ISSUES CAMPAIGN”

 On Friday, 8 December 2006, Nigerian civil society will launch a campaign aimed at promoting issue accountability among election candidates through a platform provided by Pact, an international NGO with offices in Abuja.  The US Ambassador to Nigeria, John F. Campbell will address the gathering as will Professor Maurice Iwu, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission.  The Mission Director of the United States Agency for International Development, Patrick Fleuret will also be on hand.  Vice President of the League of Women Voters, Sarah Diefendorf of the United States will give the keynote address on Holding Political Contestants Accountable to Voters on Issues and Professors Jadesola Akande and Abubakar Monoh will serve as respondents.

  As Nigeria enters into the height of the election campaign period, the question prominent in most minds is how well will political parties conduct themselves in the campaign environment?  Will they adhere to the code of conduct set out in the eectoral code?  And well will they “stick to the issues?”

 Through its Advocacy, Awareness and Civic Empowerment Program, (“ADVANCE”), Pact Nigeria has supported civil society organizations (CSOs) to advocate on important anti-corruption, poverty alleviation and social development issues which are likely to feature prominently in campaigning in the coming election period.  Pact Nigeria CSO partners are poised to refocus their advocacy activities on ensuring political contestants focus their campaign discourse on the issues that matter to the Nigerian electorate.

 After the campaign is launched, civil society organizations throughout Nigeria will initiate a series of activities aimed at promoting issue accountability during election campaigning, including the organization of issue briefings for political parties, comparative analyses of political party manifestos, issue education forums for voters and the organization of issue debates that enable voters to interrogate political contestants on the issues.

 The launch provides a platform for civil society organizations to formally, publicly and collectively express their intention to hold political contestants accountable on the issues.