1. Nigeria By Sonia Danon, Rebecca Zhang, Jamey Capolupo

2. The Basics Capital: Abuja Population: 151.3 million Currency: Naira Major religions: Muslim 50%, Christian 40%, indigenous beliefs 10% 270,000 children with AIDS 95% of exports are petroleum related 853 km of coastline

3. Precolonial Era (800- 1860)  Trade connections – Niger River provides access to ocean  Influence of Islam – Hausa contact and trade with north facilitates integration of Islamic principles  Kinship-based Politics – in the South, political organization was usually at the village level  Complexities – not all governing in north was centralized and not all governing in south was at the village level  Democratic Principles – valued accountability

4. Colonial Era (1860-1960)  Authoritarian rule – in 1860, the British imposed indirect rule  Interventionist State – led to citizens passively accepting the actions of their rulers  Individualism – led to chiefs thinking about personal benefits of governance  Christianity – increase in education and literacy but also intensified cleavages  Intensification of Ethnic Politics – 3 main groups: Hausa- Fulani, Igbo, Yoruba

5. The Era Since Independence (1960-present)  Military Rule  1966 – Aguyi Ironsi, first military ruler  1976-70 – Biafran Civil War as a result of Aguyi Ironsi’s assassination  1979 – Olusegun Obasanjo willingly steps down for democratically elected president Shehu Shagari  1983 –Shagari forced out of office by military coup led by General Muhammed Buhari  1999 – democratic election brings Obasanjo back to power

6. The Era Since Independence (1960-present)  Presidential System – 1979 – popularly elected president, separate legislative branch, and independent judiciary  Personalized Rule and Corruption – result of individualism  Federalism – failed attempt to mollify ethnic tensions  Economic Dependence on Oil – economy fluctuates with international oil market

7. The Executive Branch  President Goodluck Jonathan (since 9 February 2010)  the president is both the chief of state and head of government  became president on 5 May 2010 following the death of President Yar'Adua, was Acting President by 9 February 2010 (by the National Assembly) during Yar'Adua's illness

8. The Executive Branch (continued)  Cabinet  Federal Executive Council  Chief of State  President Goodluck Jonathan (since 9 February 2010) - all appts approved by Senate

9. The Legislative Branch  Bicameral National Assembly:  Senate (109 seats, 3 from each state plus 1 from Abuja; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)  House of Representatives (360 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)

10. Judicial Branch  Supreme Court - judges recommended by the National Judicial Council and appointed by the president  Federal Court of Appeal - judges are appointed by the federal government from a pool of judges recommended by the National Judicial Council - 14 justices Justice Ayo Salami, Nigeria Court of Appeal President

11. Political Parties  PDP is dominating party since 1999  All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP), Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) - North  Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) - South

12. Legitimacy Prebendalism (patron-clientelism) - the use of favors and bribes to create a loyal system of patrons and clients Nigerian government and MOCs prosper, communities decline Imbalance in power

13. Disunity: Politics

14. Disunity: Ethnic

15. Disunity: Wealth

16. Disunity: Health

17. Disunity: Literacy

18. Disunity: Oil

19. Political Culture  Patron-clientelism – exchanging political favors  State control and a rich civil society  Tension between modernity and tradition  Religious Conflict  Geographic influence

20. Discussion on Disunity  Which aspect of their social or political culture do you think contributes most to their disunity?  Ideally, should Nigeria be split based on ethnic divisions or should it remain unified?  Do you think this is possible given Nigeria’s current state?

21. 2007 Election  According to Nigeria's Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the PDP won the election, with Umaru Yar'Adua as their candidate, in a landslide  Intimidation  Fabricated results  Lack of secrecy  Major setback for democracy

22. Upcoming Elections  Most expensive election in Africa’s history  Main Issues: Security, Corruption, Electricity, Postponement, Violence  73.5 million registered voters (out of 151.3 million) - voting age is 18  9 April: Legislative elections - 109 senators  16 April: Presidential - 20 candidates  April: State governors - 36 governors  54 parties  Supposed to be held Jan 22

23. Postponement  4/2/11 (Sat) to 4/4/11(Mon), NOW: 4/9/11(Sat)  announced by Independent National Electoral Commission (Inec) head Attahiru Jega  “logistical problems” - ex. absence of voting materials from many polling stations

24. Violence  High security - borders closed with limited road traffic allowed  Ballot boxes being stolen  Nigerian elections historically marked by violence  Amnesty International: at least 20 people killed in election-related clash over last  Deadly bomb blast on the morning of elections Security

25. Postponement Discussion  Do you think the delay of the elections is good or bad? Causes:  Party logos and names not showing up on the ballot  Materials not showing up  Voter names not showing up on registration lists Effects:  Ballots exposed due to postponement  Voter intimidation (threatening/loitering by voting stations with guns/bribing)  Parties station by voting area to control the votes

26. Election Video  http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/world/2011/0 4/11/bs.purefoy.nigeria.election.cnn?iref=allsearch http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/world/2011/0 4/11/bs.purefoy.nigeria.election.cnn?iref=allsearch

27. Candidates 20 Presidential, 4 main contenders Muhammadu Buhari Goodluck Jonathan Nuhu Ribadu Ibrahim Shekarau

28. Muhammadu Buhari  Congress for Progressive Change (CPC)  Age 68, Muslim from northern Nigeria  Military ruler of Nigeria from 1984 to 1985 - deposed in a coup  Poor human rights record  Defeated in last 2 elections  Depend on dissatisfied northern members of PDP for support

29. Goodluck Jonathan  People’s Democratic Party (PDP)  became President after Yar’Adua ‘s death  Christian from southern Ijaw ethnic group

30. Nuhu Ribadu  Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN)  former head of Nigeria’s anti-fraud police ( head of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission)  ACN party boss Bola Tinubu taints image  threatened by Yar’Adua’s presidency  few clear policies on trade, power, the economy or education

31. Ibrahim Shekarau  All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP)  current governor of Kano State  previously in education administration  rejected polio vaccinations (attempts to make Muslim women infertile)

32. Predictions  Buhari’s biggest contender  undermine PDP - tradition of alternating power  Run-off election  CPC and ACN even talk of producing joint northern candidate.  Early indications of election votes’ counting show decline of PDP, the ruling party – slipping in power?

33. Some Election Results 46 results out of 94 senatorial districts:  ACN has 14 seats (30.4%),  ANPP 1 seat (2.2%),  APGA 1 seat (2.2%),  CPC 3 seats (6.5%),  LP 2 seats (4.3%),  PDP 25 seats (54.3%)

34. Results Cont’d 80 results have been gotten out of 315 constituencies: ACCORD has 3 seats (3.8%),  ACN 23 seats (28.8%),  APGA 2 seats (2.5%),  CPC 5 seats (6.3%),  LP 1 seat (1.3%),  PDP 45 seats (56.3%),  PPN 1 seat (1.3%)

35. Discussion on Elections  What do you think the 2011 election’s impact on the Nigerian people will be in terms of their vision of future democracy and the government’s legitimacy?  Who do you think will win the presidential elections?  How will the disunity of Nigeria play in the elections and future politics?  Compare it to the democratic elections of other countries.