.Banda
By JAMES KUNDA –
FORMER President Rupiah Banda has been appointed co-leader of an election observer mission to Nigeria, as that country heads for a general election on February, 14.
Mr Banda will co-lead the United States-based National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI), along with former US Assistant Secretary of State for African affairs Johnnie Carson.
Others are former prime minister of Niger, Mahamadu Danda, former Mauritian Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam and former governor of Colorado, Bill Ritter.
NDI senior associate and regional director for Central and West Africa, Christopher Fomunyoh said in a statement yesterday that Mr Banda’s experience would be of great benefit to the delegation.
Mr Banda has previously led election observation 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.
The Former Head of State will be accompanied to Nigeria by his assistants Mikatazo Wakumelo and Kennedy Limwanya.
About 68 million eligible Nigerians are expected to vote in the election which has been tipped to be ‘the most competitive poll’ since that country transitioned from military to civilian rule in 1999.
