2011 Nigeria National Elections
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IRI Observation Methodology
On the day of the presidential election, IRI's short-term and long-term teams observed the voting
process at more than 340 polling stations, each of which contained several polling units and voting
tables. IRI estimates that its observers collectively witnessed the participation of at least 100,000
Nigerian voters.
IRI observers were present for the opening and closing of polling stations, as well as for the vote
counting and, in some locations, the vote tabulation and collation processes. Each team observed
the opening of at least one polling center, the accreditation process (8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.) at
multiple polling centers, voting (from 12:30 p.m. until all accredited voters had voted), the closing
and vote counting process at each polling station and a portion of the vote tabulation at ward
and/or local government level depending on that observer team's proximity.
For each polling station, observer teams called in responses to a brief 10-question integrated voice
response (IVR) survey. The purpose of the IVR survey was to obtain real-time information during
the presidential Election Day in order to spot trends in the voting process and advise teams of any
widespread and overwhelming deficiencies or concerns. The responses were collected automatically
using a phone and relayed to IRI's command center in Abuja. After finalizing each 10-question
survey, the observer team was also given the opportunity to leave additional information via
voicemail. Teams used two different versions of the survey, one for morning (accreditation, 8:00 –
12:00) and one for afternoon (voting, 12:30 – close of polls). The data revealed by the IVR
provided an immediate assessment tool and influenced
and April
18 press conference. The IVR responses also form a basis—along with the other information
gathered and described in this section—for the content of this report and the recommendations
contained within.
In addition to the IVR surveys, each IRI observer team was provided paper questionnaires, with 72
questions—one per each polling station visited—and submitted to command center staff as hard
copies.
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The paper questionnaires contained eight sections covering opening and closing of polling
stations, conditions inside and outside of polling stations, presence of required officials and
(un)authorized persons, voter turnout and accreditation and voting procedures. These paper
questionnaires were collected from each team upon returning to the command center in Abuja on
the day after the elections (April 17), transported to IRI headquarters in Washington, DC, and
analyzed by IRI program staff.
Lastly, more-detailed verbal reports were obtained from all of IRI's observers and informally
documented. Each observer team called in at three designated times during Election Day to provide
a verbal update to command center staff to clarify or amplify observations reported in the IVR
surveys and/or paper questionnaires. Upon returning to Abuja on Sunday, April 17—the day after
the elections—each team was debriefed by IRI's election observation co-leaders, IRI senior
management and IRI command center staff. This debriefing information was gathered verbally and
informally documented; it was utilized as a basis for the conclusions expressed in IRI's April 18
press conference and press release. All of these verbal sources also serve as a basis for IRI's final
recommendations regarding the 2011 elections.
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See Appendix D: Results of Election Observation Polling Station Checklists
