Jega Wins International Democracy Award

The International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) will honour former Chairman Attahiru Jega of Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Congressman Ed Royce (R-Calif.) with its 2015 Charles T. Manatt Democracy Award. They will receive the award at a special ceremony co-chaired by IFES Board Director and Baker & Hostetler LLP Partner Ambassador Tom McDonald and Manatt, Phelps & Phillips LLP Partner June L. DeHart on September 29, in Washington D.C.

“Chairman Jega’s leadership was instrumental to Nigeria’s successful general elections in 2015,” said IFES President and CEO Bill Sweeney. “He deserves full credit for his efforts to increase the credibility and transparency of the electoral process under extreme logistical challenges, such as terrorist threats from Boko Haram, where failure could prove the catalyst for predicted election violence,” added Sweeney.

Jega’s expert management of the 2015 general elections positioned him as a credible election administrator. The complex Nigerian electoral environment consisted of 69 million eligible voters, 155,000 polling booths and 700,000 temporary staff deployed across the country. These recent elections resulted in the country’s first democratic transfer of power.

“I am deeply honored to accept the 2015 Democracy Award from IFES. INEC’s long-standing partnership with IFES in preparation for the 2015 general elections resulted in a credible process accepted by Nigerian citizens and the international community.

These elections have put Nigeria on the right path toward democratic stability,” said Chairman Jega.

Leader Pelosi is the Democratic Leader of the U.S. House of Representatives for the 114th Congress. From 2007 to 2011, Leader Pelosi served as Speaker of the House, the first woman to do so in American history. For 28 years, Leader Pelosi has represented San Francisco, California’s 12th District in Congress. She has led House Democrats for more than a decade and previously served as House Democratic Whip. During her nearly three decades in Congress, Leader Pelosi has been a leading advocate for women’s empowerment and gender equality.