RB to observe Nigeria elections

Former President Rupiah Banda has been appointed co-leader of an election observer mission to the Federal Republic of Nigeria as the country chooses a leader in general elections on February 14, 2015.

 

In a statement released to ZANIS in Lusaka today by the Office of the Fourth President, Mr Banda has been invited to observe the elections by the United States based National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI) which is chaired by former US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright.

 

NDI Senior Associate and Regional Director for Central and West Africa Dr Christopher Fomunyoh said president Banda’s experience will greatly benefit the NDI delegation as Africa’s most populous nation faces the most competitive election since the transition from military to civilian rule in 1999.

 

The Former head of state will co-lead the NDI delegation with former US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Jhnnie Carson, Former Niger Prime Minister Mahamadu Danda, former Mauritius Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam and former governor of Colorado Bill Ritter.

 

President Banda has previously led election observer missions to the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya and Sierra Leone under the Carter Centre and to the Royal Kingdom of Lesotho under the Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa.

 

Mr Banda will be accompanied to Nigeria by his assistants Mikatazo Wakumelo and Kennedy Limwanya.