The National Democratic Institute is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization working to support and strengthen democratic institutions worldwide through citizen participation, openness and accountability in government.

With its vibrant civil society and increasingly independent legislative and judicial branches of government, Nigeria has the essential ingredients for democracy to take root. In May 2007, for the first time in Nigeria's post-independence history, a civilian government handed over power to another upon completion of a full-term as mandated by the constitution. However, the conduct of the April 2007 elections continued the negative trend of poor election administration, which began with the 1999 polls and continued in 2003. Reports of serious widespread electoral fraud and irregularities throughout the country undermined the election's credibility and represented a significant step backward in Nigeria's democratic development.

Poor governance and entrenched corruption at the national, state and local level has left Nigeria at the crossroads. Since the end of military rule in 1999, successive elected governments have done little to translate the country's immense natural wealth into tangible gains for the majority of Nigerian citizens, more than half of whom subsist on less than a dollar a day. Worsening instability in the oil-rich Niger Delta region, the lack of political will to address governance challenges, and the continuing nexus of violence, corruption and politics threaten the development of the country's democratic institutions.

Failure to put in place meaningful electoral reforms before the next scheduled general elections in 2011 could lead to a fourth successive flawed electoral process, and the further disillusionment of Nigeria's citizenry with elected government. Such a scenario could stoke political violence and endanger prospects for continuing civilian governance in Nigeria.

Strengthening Electoral Processes

Legislative Strengthening

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