February 13, 2019
Since the commencement of the Fourth Republic in 1999, Nigeria has had four successive general elections (2003, 2007, 2011 and 2015) during which political power was transferred, peacefully, from one democratically elected government to the other. In 2015, Nigeria made history as Political Power was successfully transferred from an incumbent Government and Political Party to the opposition. That seamless transfer of power raised Nigeria’s Political Profile in the comity of nations. Nigeria must build on the lessons learnt from that peaceful exercise which made Nigerians proud of their nation. In less than 60 hours, Nigerians will go to the pools to cast their votes for various Political Parties and Candidates. This will be the Sixth general elections in Nigeria since the commencement of the Fourth Republic in 1999. Nevertheless, despite these notable electoral successes recorded in the election periods mentioned above, grave concerns have been expressed over the lack of strict adherence to rules and regulations governing the integrity of the Nigerian electoral process. Therefore, there is the need for great improvement to guard against violent disputes which often mar the credibility and acceptability of the outcomes, thus casting a shadow doubt on the overall credibility of democracy in Nigeria. Concerned about these electoral malpractices and the resultant disruptive disputes, often marred in violence in the Nigerian electoral circles, the Savannah Centre for Diplomacy, Democracy and Development (SCDDD), like other concerned stakeholders, felt that time had come for more positive steps to be taken to work together towards addressing these discredited electoral processes with a view to enhancing the credibility, sustainability and acceptability of the election outcomes by Nigerians and the international community. The LEAD Project As part of its contribution to the nation’s efforts towards establishing the culture of peaceful, transparent, free, fair and credible general elections in Nigeria from 2019 and beyond and laying the foundation for a more democratic and people-driven party politics and credible electoral processes that are guided by the rule of law to ensure the emergence of competent and effective leadership that would guide and drive the political processes for effective, transparent and accountable governance in Nigeria, the Savannah Centre, conceptualised and designed the “Leadership Effectiveness and Accountability Dialogue” (LEAD) as a Project. This Project which is designed for a period of four to five years, is to be driven by a Special Council known as the ‘Council of the Wise’, made up of seven (7) notable, knowledgeable, experienced and widely respected men and women, with equal number and calibre, as alternate members, all carefully selected from the country’s six geopolitical zones and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Happily, this project is financially supported by MacArthur Foundation /PLAC, for its first two years (2018/2020). Essentially, the LEAD Project, is a Political Accountability and Open Governance enlightenment and Training Project, aimed at reawakening the conscience, re-educating and rebuilding the capacity of the Nigerian critical political stakeholders and influencers (Political Parties, Candidates, Traditional and Religious Leaders, Youths and Women Organisations, Media, Business Groups, Academia and Think-Tanks
