19-Letter to the Secretary of State for
Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs from the Chairman of the Committee
As you know, presidential, parliamentary and
state assembly elections will be held in Nigeria later this year.
Strong concerns have been expressed about whether these elections
will be free and fair.
I am of course aware that the Government has
contributed to monitoring arrangements for the elections through
the Joint Donor Basket Fund (JDBF) managed by the UNDP. As I understand
the position, however, this funding is specifically for monitoring
and other work to be carried out by Nigerian civil society groups.
I would be grateful to learn whether, in addition
to the very welcome support for internal monitoring, the United
Kingdom—either alone or in cooperation with other countries
or international organisations—will be sending external
monitors to the elections.
Mike Gapes MP
Chairman
10 January 2007
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