Electoral bill signed by Jonathan and funds released

Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan signed a new electoral bill into law on Friday paving the way for elections next year. The Nigerian government also released funds worth 450 million euros to organise the polls and help prevent a repeat of 2007’s elections, which were marred by fraud.

“Since coming into office I’ve emphasised that this administration would do all that is needed to grant a free, fair and credible election in 2011 and beyond,” said Jonathan.

“I will not consider my personal interests, or the benefit of my own political party, in doing that which will secure credible elections for our people,” he added.

He signed a new legal framework which lays out the basis for the elections, although there has been no announcement of the date which has been moved forward from April to January.

The new act says the date of the election must be announced 90 dates in advance, giving the electoral commission until September, if they are intend to hold a January ballot.

Other new provisions in the bill outline the order in which the polls must be held with Senate and House of Representatives coming first, then the presidential election and finally votes for state governors.

Political parties will also have 60 days in which to submit their candidates. This means that Jonathan and other hopefuls would have until the end of October to announce their candidacy.

There had been concerns about preparations for the polls. Attahiru Jega, the head of Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission had warned that delays in releasing the funds could make it difficult.

Jega has warned of flaws in the voter register, included underage voters, blank or blurred photographs and multiple listings for the same name.

Meanwhile, Jonathan has yet to announce his standing for the polls and it is not clear whether the ruling People’s Democratic Party will endorse him.

The PDP favours an informal system of rotation, whereby candidates are rotated between the north and south of the country every two terms.

Since the death of President Umaru Yar’Adua there has been some division as to whether Jonathan, a Christian from the south, could hold the party’s nomination. Yar’Adua was a Muslim from Katsina State in northern Nigeria.

Despite no official announcement, a website link from the official Nigerian government site takes web users to a “Rethink Nigeria: Vote Goodluck 2011" site which provides a profile of Jonathan and his policies.