Nigeria
Recent elections have revealed challenges within Nigeria’s democratic processes, including declining voter participation, a shrinking civic space, falling trust in electoral institutions, and increasing demands for a constitutional review and electoral reforms to build local government autonomy and deliver good governance. To address these issues, the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) is working to promote credible, inclusive, and transparent elections and broader civic participation at state and national levels under the Supporting Electoral Accountability and Transparency (SEAT) activity, co-funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO).
Since 1998, IFES has partnered with Nigerian election management bodies to strengthen their capacity at national, state, and local levels. Through SEAT, IFES supports state independent electoral commissions (SIECs) to enhance their independence and proficiency to conduct free and fair local government area elections. This work draws on successful approaches that have built the capacity of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) into a leader on the continent over the past decade.
This work extends beyond institutional support, as IFES also engages civil society to advocate for the independence of SIECs while promoting voter awareness and participation. These efforts target women, youth, persons with disabilities, and internally displaced persons, ensuring that marginalized groups are actively involved in Nigeria’s democratic processes.
In addition to fostering electoral participation, IFES prioritizes broader citizen involvement in governance, particularly for women. Through small grants to regional women’s rights groups, training and mentorship for emerging young women leaders, and capacity strengthening of female state-level parliamentarians, IFES advocates for the adoption of gender-responsive state legislation and encourages women’s leadership in the political arena.
Together, with partners and stakeholders, IFES is committed to empowering Nigeria’s citizens and institutions to build a resilient democracy that meets the needs of Nigerians.
