YIAGA Africa, Others Host Conference On Nigeria’s 20 Years Democracy

As the country enters its third decade of democratic rule, a nonprofit organisation, YIAGA AFRICA, National Endowment for Democracy (NED) and Ford Foundation has put together a conference to reflect on the Nigeria’s 20 years of uninterrupted democracy.

With the theme: “Nigeria’s Democracy at 20: Reflections and Reform”, the conference will hold between October 22-23, 2019 in Washington DC.

In a statement signed by the Executive Director of YIAGA AFRICA, Samson Itodo, said the conference will provide an opportunity for reflection on Nigeria’s democracy with special focus on how the country can consolidate and deepen its democracy.

The statement added that the event is also designed to raise the profile of and build on on-going election review and governance reform conversations in Nigeria and mobilize international support for democratic reforms in Nigeria.

Other itineraries of the conference include a special roundtable on Nigeria’s economy and restructuring at the School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), John Hopkins University, Washington, DC.

A part of the statement read: “In February 2019, Nigeria held its sixth national election since the country returned to democratic civilian rule.  The election reflects both the strengths and deficiencies in Nigeria’s democracy. Whilst the political space is pluralistic and competitive, democratic institutions remain weak, and civic space restricted.

“Citizens have real expectations for government officials, and failure to meet these expectations can result in removal from office through the ballot, even as public trust in state institutions declines. Government structures and systems, including the electoral management bodies, security forces, and the courts are guided and constrained by democratic rules. And yet, politics is exclusionary and divisive.

“Government officials and agencies often fail to operate transparently and respond to the needs and demands of the people. Officials and agencies also fail to abide by the rule of law. This and many more will form the thrust of conversations and dialogue sessions moderated by Prof. Carl Levan, American University; Jennifer Cooke, George Washington University; and Christopher O’Connor, National Endowment for Democracy,” the statement added.

The conference, the statement concluded, will contribute to tangible policy reform priorities for election management, internal party democracy, security sector governance, and political inclusion, as well as a roadmap on what civil society, the government, the public, and the international community can do in accelerating the process of democratic reform in Nigeria.