Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa, gained independence from her British colonialists on 1st October, 1960.
From 1960 to 1999, the country witnessed series of administrations with lots of military intervention.
But from 1999 to date, Nigeria has witnessed twenty six years of unbroken democracy, thus making the country a shining example for other African countries.
Although military rule interrupted democracy at some points in the history of the country, the tide however changed in 1999, when Nigeria again installed a democratically elected government led by President Olusegun Obasanjo. The country being a pacesetter in Africa has since then enjoyed uninterrupted democracy with successive administrations in place.
Nigeria, the most populous black nation in the world, serves as an example for smaller nations on the African continent.
As a way of sustaining democratic governance, Nigeria has in place an institution that strengthens the democratic system of governance like the independence National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Aside conducting elections for the President and Vice President, as well as the National Assembly, INEC also conducts elections in Nigeria’s 36 states, comprising those for Governors and members of the Houses of Assembly for the 36 States.
Other features of democracy that have continued to be manifest in Nigeria in the past 26 years include the development of political parties and autonomy of the electoral body, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
Nigeria is a multi-party democracy and with freedom of association enshrined in the country’s constitution, there have been no inhibitions to the registration of political parties. The number of political parties registered to contest the 2023 general election was 18.
The INEC has for 26 years ensured, not just the conduct of regular elections, but also the periodic review of the voters’ register, the education of the electorate, the registration of political parties, the monitoring of internal party democracy and the introduction of new legislations for effective conduct of free and fair elections.
INEC has also brought innovations into the Nigerian electoral system. Such technological innovations as the Electronic Card Reader, ECR, the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, BVAS, the INEC-Result Viewing Portal, IReV, are remarkable introductions by the electoral body in Nigeria that other countries in Africa could copy for free and fair elections.
This serves as a good example to other African nations, where some have witnessed unsolicited military intervention in politics.
In West Africa in particular, we have seen military coups, a style that is no longer popular the world over. Such countries need to learn from Nigeria by allowing democracy to thrive while the military concentrates on protecting the territorial integrity of their various countries.
Nigeria’s electoral body INEC has also been able to help during the conduct of elections in some African countries like Liberia, Guinea Bissau, Sierra Leone and Mali.
The use of technology in the conduct of elections and transmission of results also stands out as a good example for African countries. If emulated, it will strengthen democracy in Africa and restore confidence in the various electoral bodies of African countries.