Abuja, Nigeria - The International Republican Institute (IRI) and the National Democratic Institute (NDI) announce the arrival of their joint international election observation delegation to observe Nigeria’s gubernatorial and state assembly elections on March 9.  The 20 member delegation arrives in Abuja today. The delegation has received accreditation from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to observe the March 9 elections. This is the second joint election observation mission-- the NDI/IRI mission observed Nigeria’s 2019 general election on February 23.

The delegation will be co-led by Dr. Christopher Fomunyoh, Senior Associate and Regional Director for Central and West Africa (NDI) and John Tomaszewski, Regional Director for Africa (IRI).

“These state elections are a significant benchmark and important pillar in Nigeria’s democratic architecture. Leaders at the state level must derive their legitimacy from citizen engagement and other democratic processes at the grassroots,” said Dr. Christopher Fomunyoh

The 20 observers include a core team of thematic experts who arrived in Abuja in February. The delegation will review all phases of the electoral process, also taking into consideration the mission’s most recent preliminary statement on its observation of the Presidential and National Assembly elections released on February 25, as well as the mission’s findings from pre-election assessment mission in July, September, and December 2018.

“We are watching to see that stakeholders have taken remedial steps to address the shortcoming of the February 23 elections and demonstrate improvements for the March 9 polls,” said John Tomaszewski.

IRI and NDI have organized more than 200 international election observation missions around the globe, earning a reputation for impartiality and professionalism. The IRI/NDI mission to Nigeria will conduct its activities in accordance with the Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation and Code of Conduct adopted by the United Nations in 2005 and will base its findings and recommendations on Nigerian laws and international standards for elections. All activities will be conducted on a strictly nonpartisan basis and without interfering in the election process and in conformity with the laws of Nigeria.

The NDI and IRI joint election mission is a demonstration of the international community’s continuing support for democratic processes in Nigeria and is intended to help promote public confidence in the electoral process.

NDI Statements on Nigeria's 2019 Elections:

• Preliminary Statement of the Joint NDI/IRI International Observer Mission to Nigeria's Elections February 25, 2019
• Joint Statement on the Postponement of the 2019 Elections in Nigeria February 16, 2019
• NDI and IRI Statement on the Postponement of Nigeria's Elections February 16, 2019
• Statement on the Suspension of the Chief Justice of Nigeria January 28, 2019
• Statement of the Third Joint NDI/IRI Pre-Election Assessment Mission to Nigeria December 19, 2018
• Statement of the Second Joint NDI/IRI Pre-Election Assessment Mission to Nigeria September 28, 2018
• Statement of the First Joint NDI/IRI Pre-Election Assessment Mission to Nigeria July 20, 2018