Assessing International Donor Agencies and Election Support in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic

Abstract

The study basically assessed the role of international donor agencies and election supports in Nigeria between 1999-2015.Anchored on Poliarchy theory of international democracy and democratization as advanced by Dahl and expanded by William as it theoretical underpinning, the study utilized both primary and secondary sources of data to generate relevant information which aided the compilation of this study. In effect, findings revealed that USAID and multilateral donors like the EC have primarily supported the installation of the Euro-American version of liberal democracy, expressed overtly as support for rule of law, individual freedom and civil liberty, and free, fair and credible elections. Again and again, it was discovered that USAID played a significant role in the electoral support but to a lesser extent, they are yet to achieve their objectives as most of the informants responded negatively in terms of the needful of what USAID need to do to influence election and democratic governance in Nigeria. Based on this, the study recommends amongst others; that USAID should monitor the implementation and effective use of the electoral supports provided to avoid fungibility. Political parties should also be trained to be ideological based and principle inclined instead of just capturing power for personal benefit. This, will no doubt enable for proper monitoring, implementation and effective utilization of supports from donors agencies henceforth.