Civil Society Organisations and Elections Observation: Case Study of Youth Initiative for Advocacy, Growth and Advancement (YIAGA-Africa) in the 2023 General Elections

Abstract

The engagement of civil society organisations in election observation in Nigeria has become a norm since the inception of the Fourth Republic. After every general election CSOs come up with reports on elections conducted, which in some instances has become a subject of contention, especially among political parties. The reports they give about these elections shapes perceptions about the electoral process entirely. This study was embarked on to find out what exactly CSOs observe in elections and how they carry out this observation, so as to ascertain the extent to which their reports can be relied on as a true reflection of Nigeria’s election, using YIAGA-Africa as the case study. The structural functional theory was relied on to embark on this research. Data were gathered by conducting key informant interviews with officials of YIAGA-Africa and other relevant stakeholders in the electoral process which includes the Independent National Electoral Commission, and other CSOs (Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room, Transition Monitoring Group and Jigawa Civil society Forum). Data were also derived from relevant documents and analysed. The study found out that CSOs particularly YIAGA-Africa observe the entire processes of election starting from the pre-election stage, through the election day, to the post-election stage.   The study also found out that CSOs particularly YIAGA-Africa employ technological tools to observe elections on election days, and also employ a systematic means of gathering data that forms the report they give on elections. Therefore, their reports are not concocted, but a product of a systematic means of gathering of data and analysis that can serve as lenses through which Nigeria’s election can be viewed.