Elections in Nigeria: Opportunity for Improvement

The Foundry (Heritage Foundation)

25 March 2011

Elections in Nigeria: Opportunity for Improvement

On April 9, Nigerians head to the polls to vote in the presidential and gubernatorial elections. Since 1999, when the country returned to civilian rule, each election has been marred by violence, bribery, and allegations of fraud. Adding to the already daunting challenge is President Goodluck Jonathan’s decision to run for election, disregarding the unwritten power-sharing agreement between north and south.

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Jonathan has taken considerable measures to reform Nigeria’s electoral system. One of the most encouraging steps was Jonathan’s appointment of respected professor Attahiru Jega as chair of the Independent National Election Commission. Jega, who is struggling with a highly inaccurate voter registry, instituted reforms such as the use of biometric technology for voter registration, thereby decreasing the chances for voter fraud. While international election experts argued that there was simply not enough time to register voters before the election, the results were remarkable. Currently, 67.8 million people have registered to vote, nearly reaching the ambitious target of 70 million.

These efforts are positive and should be applauded. The U.S. needs Nigeria to be a strong, stable and democratic partner in Africa. If conducted in a free, fair, and transparent manner, Nigeria’s election can send a significant pro-democracy message to northern Africa and the Middle East. However, the U.S. should also not rubber stamp a flawed process as that would send the opposite message to the region.