,,iii #aah? ,,congress #a/ ,session ,s4 ,,res4 #cf ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,! ,,unit$ ,,/ates ,febru>y #g1 #bjbc,mr4 ,m55dez 7= himself & ,mr4 ,ris*7 submitt$ ! foll[+ resolution2 :i* 0 ref]r$ to ! ,committee on ,=eign ,relations ,,resolution ,re9=c+ ! ,unit$ ,/ates-,nig]ia relation%ip & urg+ ! ,gov]nm5t ( ,nig]ia to conduct free1 fair1 transp>5t1 & inclusive elections 9 #bjbc4 ,:]eas ,nig]ia is ! mo/ popul\s democracy 9 ,africa2 ,:]eas ,nig]ia rema9s "o ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates close/ p>tn]s 9 ,africa1 ) billions ( doll>s ( ,unit$ ,/ates aid & inve/m5t p] ye> go+ t[>ds key areas ( gov]nance1 heal?1 education1 en]gy1 & f9ance1 & democracy 9 ,nig]ia cont9ues to be a /rategic priority2 ,:]eas ,nig]ia has ! l>ge/ economy 9 ,africa & plays an ess5tial role 9 ! economic gr[? & developm5t ( ,we/ ,africa & cont95t-wide2 ,:]eas ! ,unit$ ,/ates-,nig]ia trade relation%ip1 support$ by ! ,african ,gr[? & ,opportunity ,act 7,,agoa7 7#ai ,u4,s4,c4 #cgja et seq47 & =eign direct inve/m5t1 fur!r connects our two c\ntries' economies2 ,:]eas ,nig]ia's lead]%ip 9 ! ,economic ,community ( ,we/ ,african ,/ates 7,,ec[as7 und]scores ,nig]ia's position on uphold+ democracy & adh]5ce to transf] ( p[] ?r\gh con/itutional means2 ,:]eas ! #bjbc electoral process 9 ,nig]ia is s*$ul$ to include a presid5tial election1 #bh gov]nor elections1 #dfi ,f$]al lawmak] elections1 & #cf ,/ate ,h\se ( ,assembly elections t may te/ ! v f\ndation ( democracy 9 ,nig]ia2 ,:]eas ! ,unit$ ,/ates supports peaceful1 cr$ible elections 9 ,nig]ia 9 keep+ ) ! democratic aspirations ( ! ,nig]ian p2 ,:]eas ! ,unit$ ,/ates1 ?r\gh key multilat]al & nongov]nm5tal int]national organizations1 has provid$ support to increase vot] p>ticipation1 access1 education1 & safety 9 elections s9ce ,nig]ia's transition to multi-p>ty democracy 9 #aiii2 ,:]eas ! #bjai ,nig]ian presid5tial & /ate-level elections 7 m>r$ by election-relat$ viol5ce1 la/-m9ute delays1 widespread vote buy+1 & dis9=mation1 & _h ! l[e/ vot] turn\t 9 a presid5tial election s9ce ! return to civilian rule 9 #aiii2 ,:]eas1 aft] ! #bjai elections1 ,nig]ian citiz5s made a res\nd+ call = electoral re=ms to address viol5ce1 corruption1 & political p>ty conduct )9 ! c\ntry's political sy/em2 ,:]eas1 ov] num]\s election cycles1 ,nig]ian civil society has develop$ significant capacities to imp>tially obs]ve elections1 conduct civic & vot] education programs1 & hold gov]nm5t (ficials acc\ntable to democratic values2 ,:]eas ! #bjai int]national election obs]vation report publi%$ by ! ,national ,democratic ,in/itute & ! ,int]national ,republican ,in/itute not$ t political p>ties rema9 ! weake/ l9k among ,nig]ia's nasc5t democratic in/itutions1 a s5tim5t %>$ by o!r citiz5 & int]national election obs]vation missions1 & emphasiz$ ! ne$ = political p>ty re=ms to promote /rong] int]nal democracy me*anisms1 ! fur!r inclusion ( wom5 & "y p 9 ! political process1 & ! adh]5ce to election codes ( conduct & ! legal framework by political p>ties2 ,:]eas despite ! l[ vot] turn\t 9 ! #bjai elections1 a #bjbb ,afrob>omet] poll indicat$ t #gj p]c5t ( ,nig]ians favor democracy ov] any o!r k9d ( gov]nm5t2 ,:]eas1 s9ce #bjai1 ,nig]ia has tak5 integral /eps to advance transp>5cy & inclusion 9 elections1 includ+ ?r\gh key provisions pass$ z "p ( ! ,electoral ,act1 #bjbb2 ,:]eas ! ,electoral ,act1 #bjbb calls =1 among o!r ?+s1 an e>li] release ( election fund+ = ! ,indep5d5t ,national ,electoral ,commission 7,,inec71 ! electronic transmission ( results1 & ! enfran*isem5t ( vot]s ) physical & m5tal disabilities2 ,:]eas ! p ( ,nig]ia cont9ue to advocate = /rong] democratic values1 gov]nm5tal acc\ntability1 & ! full implem5tation ( ! ,electoral ,act1 #bjbb 9 advance ( presid5tial elections 9 #bjbc2 ,:]eas ,presid5t ,muhammadu ,buh>i has committ$ to a peaceful transf] ( p[] to an elect$ democratic gov]nm5t 9 #bjbc1 & has pl$g$ to ensure t elections are conduct$ 9 a free1 fair1 & transp>5t mann]2 & ,:]eas ,nig]ia cont9ues to suff] f a multitude ( security issues1 includ+ b&itry1 t]rorism1 e?nic viol5ce1 religi\s intol]ance1 & a lack ( acc\ntability = human rights abuses attribut$ to /ate security =ces3 ,n[1 !re=e1 be x ,t ! ,s5ate-- 7#a7 reit]ates ! ,unit$ ,/ates commitm5t to democracy & good-gov]nance 9 ,nig]ia & und]scores ! support ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates = all p ( ,nig]ia to be able to p>ticipate 9 free1 inclusive1 & fair elections2 7#b7 comm5ds ! ,gov]nm5t ( ,nig]ia on ! passage ( ! ,electoral ,act1 #bjbb1 :i* signals ! int5t ( ! ,gov]nm5t ( ,nig]ia to /r5g!n its adm9i/ration ( elections1 & emphasizes ! ne$ = fair & transp>5t electoral processes2 7#c7 applauds ! "w ( ! _m ,nig]ian civil society organizations t cont9ually "w to advocate = & support ! implem5tation ( key election re=ms1 bol/] civic education1 dem& acc\ntability = actions ( ! gov]nm5t & security p]sonnel1 & embold5 wom5 & y\? p>ticipation 9 politics2 7#d7 enc\rages all ,nig]ians to ex]cise _! "r to vote & to refra9 f all acts ( electoral viol5ce1 vot] malfeasance1 vote buy+ & sell+1 inflammatory spee* & dis9=mation1 & any o!r actions t und]m9e free & fair elections 9 ,nig]ia2 7#e7 condemns viol5ce p]petrat$ by ,boko ,h>am1 ,,iswap1 & num]\s o!r insurg5t & b&it gr\ps t has impact$ millions ( ,nig]ians & displac$ hundr$s ( ?\s&s 9 neighbor+ ,*ad1 ,nig]1 & ,cam]oon2 7#f7 calls on ! ,gov]nm5t ( ,nig]ia to fully implem5t ! v>i\s re=ms includ$ 9 ! ,electoral ,act1 #bjbb1 & to-- 7,a7 fund ,,inec to its fulle/ capacity to indep5d5tly adm9i/] free1 fair1 & cr$ible elections2 7,b7 ensure t ,nig]ian citiz5s c safely vote 9 elections1 free ( vot] intimidation & viol5ce p]petrat$ by security =ces1 b&its1 paid political disruptors1 & arm$ insurg5ts2 7,c7 rema9 indep5d5t f political int]f]5ce by c&idates1 appo9t$ or elect$ (ficials1 political p>ties1 & /ate security =ces2 7,d7 "w ) ,,inec to ensure t elections are held z s*$ul$2 7,e7 p>tn] ) civil society organizations1 ! ,unit$ ,/ates ,dep>tm5t ( ,/ate1 & ! ,unit$ ,/ates ,ag5cy = ,int]national ,developm5t on programs t promote & fund good-gov]nance1 civic education1 & vot] access2 7,f7 "w mean+fully to r$uce dome/ic t5sions )9 ,nig]ia2 & 7,g7 support effective sub-national elections ?r\gh ,/ate ,indep5d5t ,electoral ,commissions2 7#g7 urges ,,inec to-- 7,a7 ensure equitable access = vot] regi/ration1 ! di/ribution ( ,p]man5t ,vot] ,c>ds 7,p,v,cs7 & vot] rolls1 & ensure t ! ,bimodal ,vot] ,accr$itation ,sy/em 7,,bvas7 accurately all[s = only "o vote p] p]son2 7,b7 ma9ta9 & publicly %>e accurate pre- & po/-election vot] turn\t data2 7,c7 hold c&idates1 elect$ (ficials1 & political p>ties acc\ntable = electoral law violations1 & take /eps to prosecute all ^? :o engage 9 vot] intimidation1 vote buy+1 & all o!r =ms ( electoral malfeasance2 7,d7 coord9ate ) civil society gr\ps t help advance vot] education1 vot] regi/ration1 & election obs]vation2 7,e7 m9imize bureaucratic hurdles = accr$itation ( citiz5 & int]national obs]v]s & ensure !y h unfett]$ access to all aspects ( ! electoral process2 & 7,f7 "w ) ! ,unit$ ,nations & ! int]national community to enfran*ise millions ( ,nig]ian citiz5s t h become int]nally displac$ due to viol5t conflict2 7#h7 urges political p>ties 9 ,nig]ia to und]take re=ms t re9=ce democratic values & good-gov]nance1 includ+ by-- 7,a7 hold+ c&idates1 elect$ (ficials1 & p>ty op]ators acc\ntable = ef=ts to int]f]e ) elections1 includ+ vote buy+1 vot] intimidation1 & electoral viol5ce2 7,b7 address+ f9ancial & o!r b>ri]s t r\t9ely block wom5 & "y p f p>ticipat+ or runn+ = elect$ (fice2 & 7,c7 address+ electoral corruption1 patronage1 & cli5telism2 7#i7 calls ^u ! ,unit$ ,/ates ,gov]nm5t & ! int]national community to cont9ue to inve/ 9 programs aim$ at advanc+ vot] education1 electoral security1 conflict mitigation1 electoral dispute resolution1 anti-corruption ef=ts1 z well z ! developm5t ( political p>ties 9 ,nig]ia1 includ+-- 7,a7 fund+ pre- & po/-election data collection ) ! ,gov]nm5t ( ,nig]ia & ,,inec 9 accordance ) ! be/ election data ma9t5ance & accessibility practices to ensure !re is a free op5 s\rce = po/-election data t is transp>5t & p]man5tly available to ! public2 7,b7 support+ ! "r ( ,nig]ian citiz5s to vote 9 elections t are free1 fair1 cr$ible1 & consi/5t ) int]national democratic /&>ds2 7,c7 promot+ acc\ntability = any individual t seeks to use viol5ce1 intimidation1 or corrupt electoral practices to und]m9e peaceful cr$ible elections 9 ,nig]ia1 includ+ ?r\gh consid]ation ( t>get$ f9ancial & travel sanctions2 7,d7 enabl+ citiz5 & int]national obs]vation initiatives unfett]$ access to obs]ve & issue reports on ! pre-election1 election day1 & po/-election processes1 includ+ indep5d5t v]ification ( election results to ! greate/ ext5t possible2 & 7,e7 work+ alongside ! ,gov]nm5t ( ,nig]ia to call out & address dis9=mation ab\t ! electoral process or f malign ext]nal actors2 7#aj7 calls on c&idates runn+ = ! (fice ( ! presid5t1 gov]nor1 & ,f$]al & /ate elect$ (fices to publicly commit to peace & to pursue ! resolution ( election disputes ?r\gh peaceful means2 & 7#aa7 calls on ! ,secret>y ( ,/ate to pursue diplomatic engagem5t to enc\rage a peaceful & transp>5t electoral process 9 ,nig]ia 9 #bjbc1 includ+ by coord9at+ ef=ts among v>i\s ,unit$ ,/ates ,gov]nm5t ag5cies & dep>tm5ts to fur!r good gov]nance1 /r5g!n democratic & electoral in/itutions 9 ,nig]ia1 & prev5t int]communal viol5ce4