ANALYSIS-Credible vote key to Nigeria's diplomatic standing

Reuters

31 March 2011

ANALYSIS-Credible vote key to Nigeria's diplomatic standing

* Nigeria retreated from world stage under late leader
* Vocal stance on Ivory Coast, Libya shows re-emergence

* Strong proponent of U.N. reform

* Flawed poll would undermine credibility as regional power

By Nick Tattersall

LAGOS, March 31 (Reuters) - From lobbying for intervention in crisis-torn Ivory Coast to strong backing for Western-led air strikes in Libya, Nigeria has been busy burnishing its credentials on the diplomatic stage in recent months.

The African giant, home to more people than Russia, won an unprecedented third term as chairman of West African regional bloc ECOWAS last week and sees itself as a prime contender for a permanent seat on the U.N. Security Council.

But its credibility as a regional leader at a critical time, with Ivory Coast plunging back into war and the international community striving for a common voice on North Africa, hinges on the success of elections which begin on Saturday.

Polls as flawed as the last ones in 2007 -- marred by ballot stuffing and intimidation -- could easily erode the goodwill President Goodluck Jonathan has built up since inheriting power last year when his predecessor Umaru Yar'Adua died in office.

"Nigerian leadership in ECOWAS, at the African Union, and at the United Nations has been impressive and commendable, particularly with regard to the crises in Cote d'Ivoire and in Libya," U.S. ambassador Terence McCulley told Reuters.

"The quality of these elections will certainly be important as to how the U.S. and other nations view Nigeria, and how effectively Nigeria can exercise leadership internationally."