August 25, 2023

The protocol on democracy and good governance, additional to the protocol relating to the mechanism for the prevention, management and settlement of conflicts for the maintenance of peace and security, provides in its article and in accordance with its mission that “At the request of a Member State, the Transnational Intergovernmental Organization – International Human Rights Commission – IHRC headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland may well obviously provide assistance and help in the organization of all elections and just as the IHRC can send accredited International Observers to the Country concerned for a high-level Election Observation mission

This was disclosed in a statement by Mr Vamara Fofana, IHRC Commissionner in Peace Building and Conflicts Resolution IHRC – ECOWAS on Wednesday.

Thus, as part of the implementation of its Country Program for the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, precisely as featured and consistent with its Country Program for the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, IHRC conduct an Observation Elections of Regional, Municipal Councilors of September 02, 2023, in the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire.

The Country Leader Coordinator for the Program of the International Human Rights Commission – IHRC for the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, jointly linked to the countries of the ECOWAS space and the G5_SAHEL, has indeed undertaken a series of joint actions to support the Electoral Processes in the Country.

To this end, a pre-election fact-finding mission was deployed from July 10 to July 14, 2023, to collect all the information useful for an exact assessment of the conditions under which the Regional and Municipal elections of September 2 will be held.

This mission was followed from July 17 to July 21, 2023, by another security investigation mission intended to define, in collaboration with all the stakeholders concerned, the said Regional and Municipal elections, from September 02, 2023, in Côte d’Ivoire, on the methods of securing the electoral process, then in strengthening its support for the electoral process of September 02, 2023.

IHRC Regional Coordinator for Program in the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, will therefore deploy from August 25 to August 29, 2023, a long-term Electoral Observation mission (MOELT) which will be reinforced by another short-term electoral observation mission from August 31 to September 03, 2023.

This high-level observation mission will be led by Commissioner VAMARA FOFANA in his capacity as Regional Coordinator for the Country Program of the International Human Rights Commission for the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, jointly linked to the Countries of the Space ECOWAS and the G5_SAHEL.

The mandate of the MOELT, will consist in following all the critical stages of the electoral process ranging from the pre-electoral period to the post-electoral period, in order to bring together all the elements necessary for the implementation of a response mechanism. for the prevention and management of any conflict that could be linked to the electoral process.

The Long Term Observers (LTO) who will also be deployed in the different regions will be responsible for preparing the ground for the arrival of the Short Term Observers (OCT)

Done in Abidjan, Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, August 21, 2023 #CEI #IHRC.

Reported
Commissioner VAMARA FOFANA
IHRC Expert for Peace Building and Conflicts Resolution
IHRC – ECOWAS

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The Ambassador at Large and Head of Diplomatic Mission IHRC Nigeria, H.E. Ambassador (Dr.) Duru Hezekiah laments the deplorable system of Nigeria’s society, urging electorates to actively participate in the 2023 election as a medium to determine the next leader of the country. He asserted Abuja over the weekend during a press briefing.

Nigeria is a Federal Republic comprising 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. History keeps repeating itself in a more jeopardizing way as the Nigerian state is allegedly run by a small cartel of self-serving elites whose purpose is to provide an avenue for their cooperation across religious and ethnic divisions, just enough to divvy up state oil revenue among themselves and their counterparts; making them do little or none in improving the lot of the vast majority of Nigerians.

2. The Nigerian State is centralized but weak, while true political power is decentralized in government and non-governmental entities.
3. Nigerians over decades have faced numerous tragedies on the high cost of living, masses graves resulting from banditry and insecurities insurgencies, hunger, massacre, tribalism, looting, kidnapping, ASUU Strike, etc.
4. Nigerians from across the country are lamenting the hardships in the land, crying out for urgent measures by the government at all levels to mitigate their suffering which they said was becoming intolerable.
5. It is a truism with everything is broken down, our country has become one big emergency national hospital with full occupancy…Our hearts are broken. Our family dreams are broken. Homes are broken. Churches, mosques, and infrastructure are broken. Our educational system is broken. Our children’s lives and futures are broken. Our politics is broken. Our economy is broken. Our energy system is broken. Our security system is broken. Our roads and rails are broken. Only corruption is alive and well. Nigerians can no longer recognize their country which has been battered and buffeted by men and women from the dark womb of time”.
6. Fellow Nigerians, All of us are victims of a sick Nigeria! The 2023 general election is here; it’s time to decide on another leader for our dear nation. We simply cannot fold our hands but need to participate in building a country that works for everyone through our votes.
7. I appeal to Nigerians everywhere not to entertain or give energy to unnecessary confrontation but rise to cast their votes. Knowing that the enemy of Nigeria is bad leadership, we need to push these narratives out there and as urgently as possible before those who know how to use ethnic and religious violence to make a statement seize the day!
8. Impressively, Nigerian youths are giving more to the coming election ever than before. It’s one good thing that came out of our current nightmare!

Let me conclude with the words of Charles de Gaulle, one-time President of France said; “politics is too serious a matter to be left to the politicians”.

For once, let our votes reflect our earnest yearning.
A New Nigeria is Possible!

Reporter:
Mr. Christian A. Nnamdi
IHRC Media Officer, Nigeria.

Editorial:
Fidelis Onakpoma
IHRC Editor-in-Chief Worldwide

The post STATE OF THE NATION AND ROLE OF ELECTORATES: H.E. Dr. Duru Hezekiah Full Text Message first appeared on ihrc.news.

The Secretary-General of the International Human Rights Commission (IHRC) Switzerland, Prof. Rafał Marcin Wasik has commended the accreditation of IHRC by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as a Foreign Election Observer to observe the 2023 general elections in Nigeria.

The Secretary-General in a statement made available by the Ambassador at Large and Head of the Diplomatic Mission to Nigeria, Ambassador Dr. Duru Hezekiah, asserted that “today, the International Human Rights Commission Switzerland received an invitation from the Federal Republic of Nigeria to join other International and Intergovernmental Organizations to help observe the 2023 general elections in Nigeria”.

“I am glad and I wish to especially thank the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR for ensuring policies and practices for International communities to participate in a critical time of Nigeria’s transition, as well, I urge him to strengthen the adequate provision of security to further deepen democracy”.

“You may know that election observation remains a valuable tool for improving the quality of elections and an important mechanism for ensuring election integrity in countries; through our observation IHRC seek to detect any infractions in the electoral process, providing concerned bodies with remarks on the progress of the electoral process and decisions taken while guaranteeing the integrity and neutrality of the electoral process.

“For this reason, IHRC as a Diplomatic Member of the Migration and Home Affairs Department of the European Commission, the Executive Civil Service of the European Union, shall strengthen diplomatic ties, enhance the justice system, foster practices for peaceful democracy transition, ensure that eligible citizens have the opportunity to participate and have a voice in how they will be governed through elections”.

Rafał maintained that IHRC has played critical roles in the transition to the democratic process in different countries including Africa, helping to build public confidence in the honesty of electoral processes.

“While I commend INEC for approving our request for this imperative assignment, the responsibility reposed on our Organization to protect the civil and political rights of participants in elections, deterring errors or weak electoral practices, continue to support the process of transition, democratization, and equality remain unwavering”, he added.

Reported
Fidelis Onakpoma
IHRC Editor-in-Chief

The post 2023: IHRC Secretary-General Rafał Marcin, Lauds IHRC INEC’s Accreditation, Nigeria. first appeared on ihrc.news.

2023: IHRC to Observe General Elections as Foreign Observer in Nigeria

Ahead of the 2023 general elections in Nigeria, the International Human Rights Commission (IHRC) Switzerland, has gained another momentum to ensure credible free, and fair elections void of violations of human rights as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) accredits IHRC to observe as a Foreign Election Observer in the 2023 general elections in Nigeria.

A statement through the Commission’s Secretary Rose Oriaran-Anthony on 9th January 2023 conveying the Commission approval said that “further to your application requesting to be accredited to observe the above named Election, I am pleased to convey the Commission’s approval of your request”.

Recall that IHRC had on Thursday 22nd, 2021 signed an MOU with the Inter-Party Advisory Council of Nigeria (IPAC) which is of mutual and fundamental benefit to the Nigerian people aimed to effectively assist in monitoring, evaluating, and providing holistic supervision of pre-elections and post-elections activities. It will further enhance possible ways to solve human rights compliance as well as identify human rights challenges associated with the 2023 general elections.

While expressing gratitude, the Ambassador at Large and Head of Diplomatic Mission IHRC Nigeria, H.E. Ambassador Dr. Duru Hezekiah in a statement through his Editor-in-chief Mr. Fidelis Onakpoma, maintained that the cornerstone of human rights is the entrenchment of democracy, without democracy, human rights cannot be fully protected.

“IHRC stands for the protection and advancement of democratic governance, so, accreditation by the INEC supports our efforts in achieving this noble cause of maintaining peace, protection, and advancement of democracy in Nigeria”, he added.

Signed
H.E. Ambassador Dr. Duru Hezekiah
Ambassador at Large and Head of Diplomatic Mission, Nigeria
13/1/2023

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