The national chairman of the Labour Party, Barrister Julius Abure has joined other political leaders across the world on the invitation of the United States government to monitor the presidential election in the US.
The stage is already set for the November 5, 2024, US presidential election, with the two candidates, Vice-President Kamala Harris, Democrat, and former president, Donald Trump, Republican, in a dead run to the finish line.
Barrister Abure in a message in his verified Twitter handle writes, “I’ve just arrived Washington DC on the US Government invitation to join other Political Parties and World Leaders to participate in the series of activities leading to the USA election and to observe the election. Hopefully, experience gathered will help shape and reshape election processes in Nigeria. I’ll keep all my followers and Labour Party members informed of developments.”
The Country Director, The International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) Nigeria, Seray Jah, had earlier in the Letter of Invitation to the Labour Party’s National Chairman, Abure said, “I am writing to invite you to participate in the 2024 IFES United States Election Program (USEP), which will take place from Sunday, November 3 to Wednesday, November 6 at the Marriott Marquis in Washington. DC.
“Every U.S. Presidential Election, IFES hosts its U.S. Election Program, gathering electoral stakeholders from around the world to learn firsthand about the American election process and discuss democracy and elections from comparative international perspectives—the 2016 Election Program — the last in-person Program — featured 550 participants from 90 countries.
“The Program features a series of exchanges ahead of election day on key concepts and issues impacting elections and germane to elections in every country, specifically focusing on the U.S. case. Participants learn about the decentralized U.S. election experience, election dispute resolution and the role of the Federal Election Commission, the rights of states to conduct elections per their systems and regulations, and the relationship between campaigns, election authorities, candidates, media, and the voters. On election day, participants tour polling Stations across the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia to see how neighboring territories conduct their elections using different technology and procedures. The event is capped off by an election night event and a post-election day debrief.
‘IFES strongly believes that the U.S. Election Program represents a valuable opportunity for you to gain knowledge and insights on effective party governance, campaign strategies, internal party democracy, inter/intra-party dispute resolutions, and develop skills to improve their parties’ electoral performance and engagement with voters. Through this Program, you will explore these vital topics, fostering a deeper understanding of the U.S. electoral system and its comparative experiences while interacting with peers worldwide.”
Key note remarks will be given by Hon. M. Peter McPherson, Board Co-Chair, IFES, Anthony N. Banbury, President and CEO, IFES and Anne Applebaum, Journalist and Pulitzer-prize Winning Historian amongst others.