•HRES 1170 IH 
Whereas credible elections could further consolidate demo-
cratic gains achieved over the last two decades since the 
transition from military to civilian democratic rule; 
Whereas a 2017 survey conducted by Afrobarometer found 
that 72 percent of Nigerians agreed that democratic elec-
tions are the best means of choosing their country’s lead-
ers, thus indicating that the country’s citizens are deeply 
committed to democracy; 
Whereas collaboration between civil society actors and the 
international community was a key factor that contrib-
uted to successful elections in 2015; 
Whereas successive elections in Nigeria have featured varying 
degrees of violence; 
Whereas there have been deeply concerning instances of hate 
speech by members of both the ruling coalition and the 
opposition inciting supporters to ethnic violence as a 
means by which to gain electoral advantage, intimidate 
electoral rivals, or suppress voter turnout; 
Whereas during the Ekiti and Osun Gubernatorial elections 
in July 2018 and September 2018, respectively, there 
were concerning incidents in which some elements of Ni-
geria’s security agencies displayed partisanship and a 
lack of objectivity, which risks escalating tensions within 
the country; 
Whereas Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commis-
sion has improved the voting process, notably through the 
introduction of continuous voter registration, the adop-
tion of simultaneous accreditation and voting, improve-
ments to the secrecy of the ballot, and the advancement 
of smart card reader technology; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:09 Dec 06, 2018
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6300
E:\BILLS\HR1170.IH
HR1170
pbinns on DSK79D2C42PROD with BILLS
•HRES 1170 IH 
Whereas the statement of the September 2018 Joint National 
Democratic Institute/International Republican Institute 
Pre-Election Assessment Mission to Nigeria cited remain-
ing challenges and concerns such as delays in finalizing 
the legal framework for the elections, delayed release of 
funds for the elections, security threats in the Middle 
Belt and North East, instances of vote buying, and in-
citement to violence and disinformation; and 
Whereas ensuring transparency in electoral preparations and 
building public confidence in the electoral process is vital 
for the success of the upcoming elections: Now, therefore, 
be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) reaffirms that the people of the United 
States will continue to stand with the people of Ni-
geria in support of peace and democracy; 
(2) calls on the Government of Nigeria and all 
political parties and actors to— 
(A) take actions to facilitate elections that 
are credible, transparent, and peaceful in order 
to support the will of the people and advance 
the consolidation of democracy and the stability 
of the broader region; 
(B) condemn in the strongest terms the 
use of hate speech and incitement to violence, 
and refrain from any rhetoric or action that 
seeks to demonize or delegitimize opponents, 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:09 Dec 06, 2018
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\HR1170.IH
HR1170
pbinns on DSK79D2C42PROD with BILLS
•HRES 1170 IH 
sow division among Nigerians, or otherwise in-
flame tensions; 
(C) seek to resolve any disputes over re-
sults peacefully, including through the legal sys-
tem as necessary; and 
(D) respect the impartiality of the Inde-
pendent National Electoral Commission; 
(3) calls on the Government of Nigeria to— 
(A) refrain from deploying security forces 
in a partisan manner; 
(B) ensure that security services maintain 
the highest level of professionalism and impar-
tiality in facilitating the electoral process, ena-
bling accredited observers and journalists to 
perform their work, and protecting the right of 
citizens to exercise their votes freely; 
(C) move expeditiously to finalize the pro-
posed reforms to the legal framework for elec-
tions and to ensure the disbursement of req-
uisite funds for the 2019 elections; and 
(D) enforce laws against election malfea-
sance, including vote buying, and ensure equal 
and robust application through such measures 
as the establishment of the Electoral Offenses 
Commission and Tribunal; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:09 Dec 06, 2018
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\HR1170.IH
HR1170
pbinns on DSK79D2C42PROD with BILLS
•HRES 1170 IH 
(4) urges all Nigerians to fully and peacefully 
engage in the electoral process, insist on full enfran-
chisement, reject inflammatory or divisive rhetoric or 
actions, and seek to resolve any disputes over results 
through the legal system; 
(5) calls upon the Independent National Elec-
toral Commission to sustain confidence and trust in 
its management of the electoral process by— 
(A) taking concrete measures to combat 
vote buying through voter education campaigns, 
enforcement of laws against voter inducement, 
and a nationwide ban on cell phones in the vot-
ing cubicle; 
(B) releasing specimen ballots well in ad-
vance of election day so that civil society and 
other electoral stakeholders can conduct suffi-
cient education to orient voters; 
(C) making adequate arrangements to en-
sure the participation in the election of inter-
nally displaced persons; and 
(D) taking steps to clean the voters’ roll 
and ensure timely production and distribution 
of the Permanent Voter Card to new voters; 
(6) encourages political parties in Nigeria to 
adhere to and enforce existing codes of conduct that 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:09 Dec 06, 2018
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\HR1170.IH
HR1170
pbinns on DSK79D2C42PROD with BILLS
•HRES 1170 IH 
commit parties to democratic electoral standards re-
garding campaign use of resources, engagement of 
voters, peaceful resolution of disputes, and accept-
ance of verified and credible results; 
(7) condemns any efforts on the part of any 
politicians or political parties in Nigeria to politicize 
the security and law enforcement agencies; 
(8) encourages civil society organizations in Ni-
geria to— 
(A) promote the peaceful participation of 
citizens in the electoral process and draw on ex-
isting interreligious and peacebuilding bodies to 
enhance their efforts; 
(B) disseminate information about citizen- 
based observation findings and analysis to in-
crease public knowledge and understanding 
about the conduct of the elections; and 
(C) continue leading important early warn-
ing and response mechanisms to mitigate elec-
tion-related violence, including through efforts 
to monitor hate speech and other forms of in-
citement, and further strengthen democratic 
processes; 
(9) supports efforts by the Department of 
State, including the Bureau of Conflict and Sta-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:09 Dec 06, 2018
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\HR1170.IH
HR1170
pbinns on DSK79D2C42PROD with BILLS