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Report on the Impact of IFES Activities in Nigeria, November 1998 to April 1999

Executive Summary

From November 15, 1998 to April 5,1999, the International Foundation for Election Systems (IFES) undertook a technical assessment of the electoral process that would lead to Nigeria's historic transition to civilian rule. IFES longterm monitors assessed the transitional electoral process and IFES, in collaboration with the Association of African Election Authorities (AAEA), conducted three joint observer missions. IFES also provided technical assistance on voter education programming to Johns Hopkins University (JHU) and the Center for Development and Population Activities (CEDPA).

Through its presence in Nigeria, IFES contributed to Nigerian and international understanding about the electoral process. With that knowledge, citizens and national and international observers were better equipped to judge the openness and transparency of the elections and to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the process. IFES distributed a Pre-Election Report immediately preceding the December 5, 1998 local government elections; post-election statements on the December elections and the February 20 National Assembly and 27 presidential elections; and two in-depth reports on the transitional elections to Nigerian nongovernmental organizations, political parties, election officials, donors, and others interested in Nigeria. IFES long-term monitors held numerous meetings with representatives of NGOs and political parties throughout Nigeria to share information on the electoral process. IFES also developed materials on the election system and designed observation checklists with suggestions for their use. These materials were distributed to local and international observer groups. Interviews of IFES monitors and Association of African Election Authorities (AAEA) Executive Secretary, Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, with Nigerian and international news outlets enabled IFES to reach a wider audience outside of state capital cities and the Federal Capital Territory.

IFES had a significant impact on the increased confidence of the Nigerian people and the international community about the electoral process through the implementation by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of several recommendations presented by IFES monitors and IFES/AAEA observers. Following the December 1998 local government elections, the INEC clarified and added to the election procedures in response to comments made by the IFES/AAEA missions and other observers. For example, IFES/AAEA observers noted the lack of indelible ink to mark voters to safeguard against multiple voting during the December 1998 local government and the January 1999 Governorship and State House of Assembly elections. This shortcoming was emphasized after both elections by IFES monitors in meetings with the INEC and resulted in widespread and proper use of indelible ink in the February 20 and February 27 elections. Following the February 20 National Assembly elections, IFES monitors expressed concern to the INEC on the seemingly inflated accreditation figures in those elections. This resulted in the distribution of additional forms to record the number of accredited voters at the close of accreditation (a procedure designed to thwart additional accreditation and ballot box stuffing). IFES comments also prompted the INEC to develop messages for Nigerian voters on the timing of the accreditation and voting processes and on the importance of protecting the voter's right to mark his or her ballot in secret.

IFES also identified the lack of training of poll officials as a significant shortcoming in the electoral process. With the financial assistance of the Department of International Development in the UK and the Canadian International Development Agency; IFES developed a step-by-step poll worker manual for the January elections and revised it for the February elections. A training module to accompany the manuals was also developed for the INEC.

IFES activities demonstrated the interest and support of the international community in the electoral and democratic processes in Nigeria. Through its technical assistance to the JHU and CEDPA voter education project, IFES ensured that the voter education materials were technically accurate and properly reflected the election guidelines. IFES also provided advice on key electoral messages that needed to be communicated to the Nigerian people. In addition, IFES kept the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) fully informed about the content of the voter education materials and the means through which the messages were communicated.

The activities undertaken in Nigeria enabled IFES to successfully meet the objectives and achieved the results stated in the IFES project proposal. This report describes IFES' activities in Nigeria and the impact of this program.

IFES is grateful to the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) for program funding.

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