Delegation to be led by Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright

African American Ministers in Action (AAMIA) Chair Rev. Timothy McDonald will join a 40-member delegation of political leaders, voting experts and regional observers from Africa and other continents to monitor Nigeria’s National Assembly and presidential elections on Saturday, April 21, 2007.

“Our brothers and sisters in Africa long for the blessings of freedom and democracy,” said Rev. McDonald, who will be leaving for Nigeria on Sunday, April 15. “It’s an honor to be part of such a distinguished panel. This is a chance to answer the call to do the Lord’s work on behalf of his children. That’s what our faith is about.”

Sponsored by the National Democratic Institute, the distinguished panel is being led by former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. The delegation boasts several other dignitaries including former Canadian Prime Minister Joe Clark, two former African presidents, Mahamane Ousmane of Niger and Amos Sawyer of Liberia, South African Constitutional Justice Yvonne Mokgoro, and attorney Beverly Baker-Kelly with the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda. The delegation will observe the campaigning period in the country’s six geopolitical zones.

“As we are working for democracy in Nigeria, we are praying for positive electoral reform within our own country, said Rev. McDonald. “We must defeat corrupt political tactics designed to make it harder for African Americans and other minorities to play a full part in our political process.”