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 08ABUJA686, NIGERIA: KOGI BY-ELECTION SEES LITTLE IMPROVEMENT

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. #08ABUJA686.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
08ABUJA686 2008-04-14 18:08 2011-08-25 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Embassy Abuja
VZCZCXRO7248
PP RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHUJA #0686/01 1051808
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 141808Z APR 08
FM AMEMBASSY ABUJA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2588
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RUEHOS/AMCONSUL LAGOS 9074
RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHDC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RUZEJAA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ABUJA 000686 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR AF/W, INR/AA 
DEPT. OF ENERGY FOR GEORGE PERSON 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV KDEM PHUM NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIA: KOGI BY-ELECTION SEES LITTLE IMPROVEMENT 
 
REF: A. ABUJA 485 
     B. ABUJA 253 
 
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: The March 29 Kogi State gubernatorial 
by-election was better organized than the April 2007 general 
elections, but was still plagued by problems including 
missing voting materials, late opening of polling stations, 
underage voting, poorly organized voter registers, and some 
violence.  Perhaps because of fear of violence or simple 
voter apathy, voter turnout appeared low (Mission and other 
observers estimated no more than 15%); yet the Independent 
National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced a turnout of 
more than 50%.  The Kogi by-election serves as a clear 
reminder that to date no electoral reforms have been 
implemented since the highly flawed April 2007 polls.  In the 
end, Ibrahim Idris (Peoples Democratic Party - PDP), whose 
April 2007 election had been annulled by the courts (ref B), 
was once again declared the winner by INEC.  His opponent, 
Prince Abubakar Audu (All Nigeria Peoples Party - ANPP), who 
also had the backing of the Action Congress, immediately 
declared that he would once again contest the results in the 
courts.  END SUMMARY. 
 
2. (U) Emboffs observed the March 29 gubernatorial 
by-election in Kogi State, visiting five Local Government 
Areas (LGAs), and observing 30 functioning polling stations. 
Approximately another 30 we observed never opened or received 
voting materials.  The polling units that did open could be 
characterized as generally well-organized with a process that 
appeared uniform.  At each functioning station, we also 
observed sufficient amounts of materials, serialized ballots, 
a voter register, the marking of thumbs, thumb-printing of 
ballots, and a tally sheet for recording results.  Despite 
the improved order at polling stations, we also observed many 
problems, including underage voters, non-alphabetized and 
incomplete voter registers without photos, and individuals 
voting without proof of registration.  When queried, INEC 
officials at units in Okene and Adavi LGAs said they had 
turned away as many as 200 voters due to lack of proof of 
registration.  Although, there were privacy screens set up to 
give the illusion of secrecy, police officers hovered over 
voters at several polling stations, making sure they were 
"doing it right." 
 
3. (U) Universally, turnout was low, particularly in the 
Okene and Adavi LGAs, where it was less than 10%. In many 
stations, only 20-30 people had voted by 1400hrs and in some 
places there was no one in line to vote after that time.  One 
compilation center we observed in Adavi had 20 boxes lined up 
by 1330hrs.  In the polls observed in the eastern portion of 
the state, turnout appeared slightly higher at 15 percent. 
In the Eastern District, we observed lines of about 50-100 
people still voting at 1600hrs due to late opening of the 
polls.  At one station with over 1,000 voters registered, 
they said they would remain open until everyone had voted. 
By the end of the day, we did not observe any station that 
had more than 200 votes cast, yet INEC's results suggest that 
there was 54 percent voter turnout. 
 
4. (U) A majority of the polling stations we observed opened 
late (some as late as noon) due to problems with the 
distribution of materials and late arrival of INEC officials. 
 INEC representatives said that they were being bused to 
their stations, so in many cases it took a long time to 
travel to all the polling stations.  Additionally, numerous 
polling stations never received voting materials or saw an 
INEC official arrive.  Nine of eleven wards, consisting of 22 
polling stations, in the Okene LGA never received materials. 
(NOTE: Senator Otaru Ohize, representing the Kogi Central 
District, ultimately announced the cancellation of the 
elections in Okene as a result of alleged violence.  END 
NOTE.)  Several wards in Ajaokuta and Dekina also did not 
receive materials and in Anyigba LGA, we were unable to find 
any polling stations or signs of people attempting to queue. 
Bystanders we questioned said that there had been no sign of 
polling all day. 
 
5. (U) Although there were media reports of violence in 
Okene, we did not witness any incidents at any of the 
stations visited.  A domestic observer, partnered with the 
U.S. National Democratic Institute (NDI), however, said that 
 
ABUJA 00000686  002 OF 002 
 
 
he witnessed violence in Okene when a man tried to move a 
ballot box.  The crowd chased the man, creating chaos that 
led the Police to fire their guns and use tear gas to 
disperse the crowd.  At the first polling station we visited 
in the Ojono ward of the Lokoja LGA, we encountered ANPP 
supporters attempting to take the ballot box to another 
location alleging fears that the PDP stronghold in the area 
would "steal the election again."  As the crowd argued and 
grew angrier, we departed the area. 
 
6. (U) Despite the low turnout observed, INEC announced that 
54% of the 1,365,641 registered voters cast ballots during 
the by-election.  INEC credited Idris with 74% of the votes 
and Audu with 25%.  Audu only won in two LGAs, while Idris 
won in 18 and one LGA (Okene) was canceled all together. 
Other parties, such as the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP), 
Peoples Progressive Alliance (PPA), All Progressive Grand 
Alliance (APGA), and the Progressive Action Congress (PAC), 
each received between 500 and 1500 votes total accounting for 
only 1% of the voters according to INEC.  After the results 
were announced, Audu announced that he would be returning to 
the election tribunal, alleging illegal thumb-printing and 
changing of results affected the outcome. 
 
7. (SBU) COMMENT: Although there were noticeable improvements 
in the overall organization of the Kogi by-election, in many 
ways much remained the same as in April 2007.  Despite our 
observations of a 10-15% turnout (at those polling stations 
that even opened), INEC's announced results reflect 54% of 
the registered voters in the state, suggesting an inflation 
in numbers at some point in the compilation process.  It was 
difficult to determine if the low turnout was due to apathy, 
fear, or both; but the discrepancy between the observed 
turnout and that announced by INEC was quite clear and 
underscores the fact that to date no reforms have been 
carried out since the flawed April 2007 elections.  Audu 
again announced his intentions to contest the results in 
court.  Idris' reinstatement as governor also raises the 
question of his term's length and whether the clock for his 
tenure now starts over.  If this sets a precedent, Nigeria 
could begin to experience staggered elections in future 
(heretofore, state and federal elections have been conducted 
across the country on two consecutive Saturdays).  It is 
unclear what impact this might have on electoral reform.  END 
COMMENT. 
SANDERS