It is a great honour and privilege to address the commission today on behalf of IOSD, after the recent judgment on the April 2007 Presidential election.

Permit me Mr. Chairman, to re-echo what has become a mantra in Nigeria, that the problem of Nigeria since attaining political independence is that of poor leadership and sustainable good governance. That the nation witnessed an unfortunate 30 months civil war; innumerable military coups; massive looting and primitive corruption; debilitating economic disparity; policy directionlessness; economic /social inertia and many more are traceable to lack of good leadership.

Mr Chairman, the nation cannot continue this way, our democracy must have to be anchored on the invaluable principles of participatory democracy and rule of law. It was the basis of our belief in the sanctity of these invaluable principles that IOSD accepted to participate at the April 2007 election as monitors and observers. We witnessed all that took place before and after the elections. Our unbiased report is already a public document.

Mr Chairman, it is useless to emphasis the undeniable relevance of democracy in achieving sustainable economic and social development. But can we have democracy without the right of the people to choose their leaders through periodic elections? Elections are therefore cardinal in any democratic process and only men and women with the capacity to stand up to the obvious odds against this process should be given the sacred responsibility of conducting elections.

It is a common knowledge that Nigerians do not loose elections. To Nigerian politicians elections can only be free and fair only when they win, where they loose, they must cry foul against the umpire. But Nigerian democracy can not grow this way. People must enter into electoral contest with two addresses in their breast pockets, one acceptance speech and the other conceding speech. This is the way democracy is practiced in civilized societies. Elections in Nigeria were described by late Prof. Claude Ake of blessed memory as a war. But it is not suppose to be so. A winner must be magnanimous in winning while those who lose should be humble enough to accept defeat. It is only through this understanding that Nigerian democracy can be deepened and sustained.

Mr Chairman, let me say here without fear of contradiction that given the circumstances which I consider a contradictory environment for a good election in which the 2007 elections were conducted, it would be un reasonable to expect a different outcome. INEC had the burden of undue interferences, undue pressures, plethora of contradicting court judgments, paucity of funds etc. These were obvious impediments to the conduct of a good election. But to the extent that INEC achieved a reasonable level of successes, it should be commended not condemned.

It is instructive to note that INEC conducted 990 House of Assembly seats across the country, 360 House of Representatives seats, 109 Senatorial Seats, 36 Governorship seats and a Presidential election. So far less than 5% of the election has been upturned. Of this 5% about 4% were upturned on technical grounds bordering on exclusion or substitution which essentially cannot be blamed on INEC but on the desperation of the political parties.

In instances where INEC actions and inactions substantially contributed to the flawed election, it is important to take into consideration the obvious fact that no near perfect election can be conducted in Nigeria where 80% of the election staff was adhoc who could easily compromise. INEC should be properly funded so that INEC can be adequately staffed and a poll of trained adhoc staff maintained for elections.

Mr. Chairman, let me on behalf of IOSD commend the Commission very profoundly for taking the bold initiative and risk to conduct the April elections despite the obvious grand design by certain elements to frustrate the elections or make it inconclusive. You have succeeded in giving Nigeria a government and the nation a road map to a perfect electoral system.

Thank you Mr. Chairman.