Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 97115 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
ETRD EAGR ETTC EAID ECON EFIN ECIN EINV ELAB EAIR ENRG EPET EWWT ECPS EIND EMIN ELTN EC ETMIN EUC EZ ET ELECTIONS ENVR EU EUN EG EINT ER ECONOMICS ES EMS ENIV EEB EN ECE ECOSOC EK ENVIRONMENT EFIS EI EWT ENGRD ECPSN EXIM EIAD ERIN ECPC EDEV ENGY ECTRD EPA ESTH ECCT EINVECON ENGR ERTD EUR EAP EWWC ELTD EL EXIMOPIC EXTERNAL ETRDEC ESCAP ECO EGAD ELNT ECONOMIC ENV ETRN EIAR EUMEM ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID EREL ECOM ECONETRDEAGRJA ETCC ETRG ECONOMY EMED ETR ENERG EITC EFINOECD EURM EENG ERA EXPORT ENRD ECONEINVETRDEFINELABETRDKTDBPGOVOPIC EGEN EBRD EVIN ETRAD ECOWAS EFTA ECONETRDBESPAR EGOVSY EPIN EID ECONENRG EDRC ESENV ETT EB ENER ELTNSNAR ECHEVARRIA ETRC EPIT EDUC ESA EFI ENRGY ESCI EE EAIDXMXAXBXFFR EETC ECIP EIAID EIVN EBEXP ESTN EING EGOV ETRA EPETEIND ELAN ETRDGK EAIDRW ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EPEC ENVI ELN EAG EPCS EPRT EPTED ETRB EUM EAIDS EFIC EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM EAIDAR ESF EIDN ELAM EDU EV EAIDAF ECN EDA EXBS EINTECPS ENRGTRGYETRDBEXPBTIOSZ EPREL EAC EINVEFIN ETA EAGER EINDIR ECA ECLAC ELAP EITI EUCOM ECONEFINETRDPGOVEAGRPTERKTFNKCRMEAID EARG ELDIN EINVKSCA ENNP EFINECONCS EFINTS ECCP ETC EAIRASECCASCID EINN ETRP EAIDNI EFQ ECOQKPKO EGPHUM EBUD ECONEINVEFINPGOVIZ ENERGY ELB EINDETRD EMI ECONEFIN EIB EURN ETRDEINVTINTCS EIN EFIM ETIO ELAINE EMN EATO EWTR EIPR EINVETC ETTD ETDR EIQ ECONCS EPPD ENRGIZ EISL ESPINOSA ELEC EAIG ESLCO EUREM ENTG ERD EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ECINECONCS ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS ECUN EFND EPECO EAIRECONRP ERGR ETRDPGOV ECPN ENRGMO EPWR EET EAIS EAGRE EDUARDO EAGRRP EAIDPHUMPRELUG EICN ECONQH EVN EGHG ELBR EINF EAIDHO EENV ETEX ERNG ED
KMDR KPAO KPKO KJUS KCRM KGHG KFRD KWMN KDEM KTFN KHIV KGIC KIDE KSCA KNNP KHUM KIPR KSUM KISL KIRF KCOR KRCM KPAL KWBG KN KS KOMC KSEP KFLU KPWR KTIA KSEO KMPI KHLS KICC KSTH KMCA KVPR KPRM KE KU KZ KFLO KSAF KTIP KTEX KBCT KOCI KOLY KOR KAWC KACT KUNR KTDB KSTC KLIG KSKN KNN KCFE KCIP KGHA KHDP KPOW KUNC KDRL KV KPREL KCRS KPOL KRVC KRIM KGIT KWIR KT KIRC KOMO KRFD KUWAIT KG KFIN KSCI KTFIN KFTN KGOV KPRV KSAC KGIV KCRIM KPIR KSOC KBIO KW KGLB KMWN KPO KFSC KSEAO KSTCPL KSI KPRP KREC KFPC KUNH KCSA KMRS KNDP KR KICCPUR KPPAO KCSY KTBT KCIS KNEP KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KNNB KGCC KINR KPOP KMFO KENV KNAR KVIR KDRG KDMR KFCE KNAO KDEN KGCN KICA KIMMITT KMCC KLFU KMSG KSEC KUM KCUL KMNP KSMT KCOM KOMCSG KSPR KPMI KRAD KIND KCRP KAUST KWAWC KTER KCHG KRDP KPAS KITA KTSC KPAOPREL KWGB KIRP KJUST KMIG KLAB KTFR KSEI KSTT KAPO KSTS KLSO KWNN KPOA KHSA KNPP KPAONZ KBTS KWWW KY KJRE KPAOKMDRKE KCRCM KSCS KWMNCI KESO KWUN KPLS KIIP KEDEM KPAOY KRIF KGICKS KREF KTRD KFRDSOCIRO KTAO KJU KWMNPHUMPRELKPAOZW KEN KO KNEI KEMR KKIV KEAI KWAC KRCIM KWCI KFIU KWIC KCORR KOMS KNNO KPAI KBWG KTTB KTBD KTIALG KILS KFEM KTDM KESS KNUC KPA KOMCCO KCEM KRCS KWBGSY KNPPIS KNNPMNUC KWN KERG KLTN KALM KCCP KSUMPHUM KREL KGH KLIP KTLA KAWK KWMM KVRP KVRC KAID KSLG KDEMK KX KIF KNPR KCFC KFTFN KTFM KPDD KCERS KMOC KDEMAF KMEPI KEMS KDRM KEPREL KBTR KEDU KNP KIRL KNNR KMPT KISLPINR KTPN KA KJUSTH KPIN KDEV KTDD KAKA KFRP KWNM KTSD KINL KJUSKUNR KWWMN KECF KWBC KPRO KVBL KOM KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KEDM KFLD KLPM KRGY KNNF KICR KIFR KM KWMNCS KAWS KLAP KPAK KDDG KCGC KID KNSD KMPF KPFO KDP KCMR KRMS KNPT KNNNP KTIAPARM KDTB KNUP KPGOV KNAP KNNC KUK KSRE KREISLER KIVP KQ KTIAEUN KPALAOIS KRM KISLAO KWM KFLOA
PHUM PINR PTER PGOV PREL PREF PL PM PHSA PE PARM PINS PK PUNE PO PALESTINIAN PU PBTS PROP PTBS POL POLI PA PGOVZI POLMIL POLITICAL PARTIES POLM PD POLITICS POLICY PAS PMIL PINT PNAT PV PKO PPOL PERSONS PING PBIO PH PETR PARMS PRES PCON PETERS PRELBR PT PLAB PP PAK PDEM PKPA PSOCI PF PLO PTERM PJUS PSOE PELOSI PROPERTY PGOVPREL PARP PRL PNIR PHUMKPAL PG PREZ PGIC PBOV PAO PKK PROV PHSAK PHUMPREL PROTECTION PGOVBL PSI PRELPK PGOVENRG PUM PRELKPKO PATTY PSOC PRIVATIZATION PRELSP PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ PMIG PREC PAIGH PROG PSHA PARK PETER POG PHUS PPREL PS PTERPREL PRELPGOV POV PKPO PGOVECON POUS PGOVPRELPHUMPREFSMIGELABEAIDKCRMKWMN PWBG PMAR PREM PAR PNR PRELPGOVEAIDECONEINVBEXPSCULOIIPBTIO PARMIR PGOVGM PHUH PARTM PN PRE PTE PY POLUN PPEL PDOV PGOVSOCI PIRF PGOVPM PBST PRELEVU PGOR PBTSRU PRM PRELKPAOIZ PGVO PERL PGOC PAGR PMIN PHUMR PVIP PPD PGV PRAM PINL PKPAL PTERE PGOF PINO PHAS PODC PRHUM PHUMA PREO PPA PEPFAR PGO PRGOV PAC PRESL PORG PKFK PEPR PRELP PREFA PNG PGOVPHUMKPAO PRELECON PINOCHET PFOR PGOVLO PHUMBA PRELC PREK PHUME PHJM POLINT PGOVPZ PGOVKCRM PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PECON PEACE PROCESS PLN PRELSW PAHO PEDRO PRELA PASS PPAO PGPV PNUM PCUL PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PGIV PRFE POGOV PEL PBT PAMQ PINF PSEPC POSTS PHUMPGOV PVOV PHSAPREL PROLIFERATION PENA PRELTBIOBA PIN PRELL PGOVPTER PHAM PHYTRP PTEL PTERPGOV PHARM PROTESTS PRELAF PKBL PRELKPAO PKNP PARMP PHUML PFOV PERM PUOS PRELGOV PHUMPTER PARAGRAPH PERURENA PBTSEWWT PCI PETROL PINSO PINSCE PQL PEREZ PBS

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 07ABUJA1397, NIGERIA: ELECTION TRIBUNALS (PART I)

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs

Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
  • The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
  • The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
  • The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #07ABUJA1397.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
07ABUJA1397 2007-07-02 16:10 2011-08-25 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Embassy Abuja
VZCZCXRO1256
PP RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHUJA #1397/01 1831610
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 021610Z JUL 07
FM AMEMBASSY ABUJA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0096
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RUEHWR/AMEMBASSY WARSAW 0416
RUEHCD/AMCONSUL CIUDAD JUAREZ 0417
RUEHOS/AMCONSUL LAGOS 7287
RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ABUJA 001397 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PINR KJUS KDEM NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIA: ELECTION TRIBUNALS (PART I) 
 
REF: ABUJA 922 
 
ABUJA 00001397  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
THIS CABLE IS SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED.  NOT FOR INTERNET 
DISTRIBUTION. 
 
This cable provides background information addressing the 
election tribunal process resulting from grievances to the 
April 2007 gubernatorial, presidential, and legislative 
elections in Nigeria. 
 
1.  According to the Nigerian Constitution and 2006 Electoral 
Act, any aggrieved political party or candidate may contest 
the conduct or result of the April elections, including the 
gubernatorial and presidential races.  Special election 
tribunals, located in the Federal Court of Appeal for the 
presidential election and in the State Court of Appeal for 
the gubernatorial election, have been established in the 
thirty six states and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to 
entertain petitions.  Should these election tribunals 
jettison any case on legal or technical grounds, the 
Electoral Act permits appellate courts, including the Supreme 
Court for the presidential race and the High Court for 
gubernatorial races, to hear the affected cases. 
 
2.  The President of the Federal Court of Appeal, Justice 
Abdullahi Umaru, appoints members of all election tribunals. 
At the federal level, cases are presided over by a Chief 
Magistrate and four other magistrates of the FCT Judiciary; 
at the state level, the Chief Magistrate of each of the 
thirty-six states submits names of two other serving judges 
to Justice Umaru for security vetting.  Tribunal magistrates 
are posted to states other that their respective states of 
origin. 
 
3.  Petitioners, either individual candidates or political 
parties participating in the elections, receive up to thirty 
days from the announcement of election results to file their 
complaints with the respective tribunals.  According to 
Section 145 of the Electoral Act, petitions may be filed on 
the following grounds: 
 
-- That a person whose election is questioned was, at the 
time of the election, not qualified to contest the election; 
 
-- That the election was invalid by reason of corrupt 
practices or non-compliance with the provisions of the 
Electoral Act; 
 
-- That the announced winner of the election was not duly 
elected by a majority of lawful votes cast at the election; or 
 
-- That the petitioner or aggrieved candidate was validly 
nominated but was unlawfully excluded from the election. 
 
4.  Importantly, Section 146 (1) states that elections may 
not be invalidated or nullified if the election tribunal 
determines that elections were conducted "substantially" in 
accordance with the Electoral Act.  The Electoral Act, 
Section 148 is equally ambiguous as to the time limit for 
which the election tribunals may entertain cases, noting only 
that such cases "shall be given accelerated hearing." 
 
5.  Ultimately, the election tribunals may dismiss any case. 
The courts may also choose to upend election results, thereby 
calling for fresh elections no later than 3 months after the 
court determines that new elections should be held or 
announcing as winner the candidate who scored the highest 
number of valid votes.  The election tribunals may nullify 
elections based on the following grounds: 
 
-- That a candidate who was declared the victor was not 
validly elected; or 
 
-- That a candidate who was declared the victor was not 
validly elected on the ground that he did not receive the 
majority of valid votes cast at the election. 
 
6.  In addition to specifying the parties or candidates 
interested in presenting a petition before the election 
tribunals, petitioners must also conclude their petitions 
with a "prayer or prayers" according to the Electoral Act. 
Examples of prayers include that the petitioner "be declared 
 
ABUJA 00001397  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
validly elected or returned, having polled the highest number 
of lawful votes cast at the election or that the election may 
be declared nullified."  Petitions must be accompanied by a 
list of witnesses the petition intends to call and a list of 
documents petitioners will rely upon at the actual hearing of 
the petition.  Petitioners may approach the election tribunal 
to "compel" INEC to allow them to inspect vital 
elections-related documentation, including tally and result 
sheets, ballot papers, copies of voter registers, and lists 
of staff employed at polling stations during the April 
elections. 
 
7.  (SBU) Petitions from aggrieved candidates or political 
parties, including main opposition presidential candidates 
Muhammadu Buhari (ANPP) and Atiku Abubakar (AC), have been 
filed across Nigeria's thirty-six states and the FCT.  Almost 
three months after INEC announced winners of the April 
gubernatorial and presidential elections, most election 
tribunals throughout Nigeria have yet to convene. 
Complainants fear that the ambiguity and interpretive 
latitude inherent in the 2006 Electoral Act, which neither 
stipulates a time limit for cases to be heard nor defines the 
extent to which elections must be proven to have been 
conducted irregularly to warrant nullification of results, 
may inhibit their ability to receive a truly free trial. 
Skepticism also abounds as to the nonpartisan, independent 
nature of the Federal Court of Appeal, which some regard as 
thoroughly compromised. 
CAMPBELL