“The April 2011 general elections – if credible and peaceful – would reverse the degeneration of the franchise since Nigeria returned to civilian rule in 1999, yield more
representative and legitimate institutions and restore faith in a democratic trajectory. Anything similar to the 2007
sham, however, could deepen the vulnerability of West Africa’s largest country to conflict, further alienate citizens from the political elite and reinforce violent groups’ narratives of bad governance and exclusion. Flawed polls,
especially if politicians stoke ethnic or religious divides, may ignite already straining fault lines, as losers protest
results. Despite encouraging electoral preparations, serious obstacles remain. Many politicians still seem determined
to use violence, bribery or rigging to win the spoils of office. In the remaining weeks, national institutions, led by
the Independent National Election Commission (INEC), should redouble efforts to secure the poll’s integrity, tackle
impunity for electoral crimes, increase transparency and bolster safeguards, including by publicising results polling
station by polling station and rejecting bogus returns.”
