Nigeria

As the International Republican Institute's (IRI) first experience with democracy promotion in Africa, the Nigeria program has provided effective technical training to Nigeria's political parties to strengthen their foundations and organizational structures.

Since the 2003 elections, IRI has focused on strengthening Nigerian political parties in the pivotal years between elections. Presently, IRI's efforts are geared towards preparations for the 2007 presidential election.

Political Party Development

IRI's current program in Nigeria is focused on strengthening and preparing political parties for the 2007 elections and fostering the partnership between the parties and civil society groups. The premier objective of is to ensure that political party and civil society involvement in the political process is an enduring element of the country's political realm. In working with political parties in Nigeria, IRI seeks to improve internal communication within parties, assist parties in developing platforms responsive to citizens' interests, support parties in improving development and management among women and youth, and aid parties to improve local and national coordination on programs and activities.

State Party Leaders Academy

IRI recognizes that for Nigeria's democracy to flourish, political parties must be highly effective and organized on the state level to respond to voter's concerns. In order to strengthen political parties and enhance democratic consolidation in Nigeria, IRI has constructed an innovative series of workshops known as the State Party Leaders Academy. These workshops, which have been held in Bauchi and Ogun states, strengthen political parties at the state level so as to decentralize politics in the country.

Promoting the Participation of Women & Youth in the Democratic Process

In addition to working with political parties and civil society groups, IRI also has a robust women and youth program, which encourages greater participation in Nigeria's democratic process. IRI's Women's Forum in Nigeria brought together women from various backgrounds to identify strategies to unify, educate and encourage women to participate in the political and electoral process. The forum also officially launched a Nigerian Women's Coalition geared toward increasing women's political participation and electoral representation. IRI also plans series of national workshops for women leaders of political parties and female political candidates.

In preparation for the 2007 elections, IRI will conduct a pre-election assessment mission and will field an elections observation mission.

In 2003, after several decades of intermittent military and authoritarian rule, Nigeria managed to perform its first successful civilian transfer of power. Although the electoral process was marred with some complications, the 2003 elections ushered in a spirited era of renewal, dynamism, and hope about the future of Nigerian democracy. Due to Nigeria's leadership on the African continent, this new spirit of democracy bodes well for democracy in Africa as a whole.

The Nigerian democratic environment, although nascent, continues to make strides towards consolidation. IRI's assessment of the political environment however, suggests that there are many issues that must be addressed if the Nigerian democratic endeavor is to flourish.

Although half of the registered political parties remain active in politics, IRI's continued interaction with them has revealed that political parties in many areas are still unable to adequately compete. The parties lack political instruments and logistics to be truly cohesive and viable. IRI has continued to build upon its post-election programming to create a more organized and coherent political party agenda. IRI currently seeks to engage the political parties at various levels, to strengthen their capacity as well as help them explore and build partnerships with civil society organizations to develop issue-based strategies to respond to voters concerns.

IRI first began work in Nigeria in 1992 by training youth activists in preparation for the country's 1993 elections. IRI suspended its work when the military annulled the results of the election. With the death of General Abacha and the establishment of a new timetable for democratic transition, IRI was able to begin programming in November 1998. Since then, IRI programs in the country have included poll-watcher training, election observation missions, political party capacity-building, and women and youth empowerment.

Political Overview

Head of Government: President Umaru Yar’Adua, People's Democratic Party

Type of Government: federal republic

Suffrage: universal, age 18

Elections Calendar

Program Overview

Focus of Program: political party development and civil society organization partnerships

Funding Source: United States Agency for International Development