Political Party Performance Index (PPPI)

Ladies and gentlemen of the press, esteemed stakeholders, distinguished guests, and the Nigerian public, we warmly welcome you to this historic event where we unveil the Political Party Performance Index (PPPI), a pioneering initiative designed to assess, improve, and enhance the operations of political parties in Nigeria.

Today’s press conference is more than a launch—it is a call to action to strengthen democracy in Nigeria through the revitalization of our political parties. As key actors in democratic governance, political parties hold the power to shape our nation’s trajectory. Yet, this potential remains untapped without accountability, inclusivity, and performance-driven frameworks.

Today, we gather to unveil a groundbreaking initiative designed to strengthen the fabric of Nigeria’s democracy—the Political Party Performance Index (PPPI). This press conference marks a pivotal step in our collective quest to enhance political accountability, inclusivity, and transparency in Nigeria’s political landscape.

Allow us to introduce the esteemed members of today’s panel:

• [Adebowale Olorunmola]: The Country Director of Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD) Nigeria, who will provide an overview of Nigeria’s political history and the challenges faced by political parties.
• [Bukola Idowu]: A Lead Political Governance Expert, who will elaborate on improvements observed in political party operations and provide a detailed explanation of the PPPI.
• [Barr Ebere Ifendu]: A Gender and Inclusion Advocate, who will discuss the methodology of the PPPI pilot and its potential impact on governance and political participation in Nigeria.

Nigeria’s political journey has been one of resilience and transformation. From the pre-independence struggles for self-rule to the establishment of the First Republic in 1963, the nation has weathered periods of political turbulence, military rule, and the restoration of democracy in 1999. The return to democratic governance ushered in an era of hope and renewal, with political parties at the forefront as essential vehicles for leadership emergence in the nation.

Since independence, political parties have played a central role in shaping Nigeria’s nation-building efforts. The early post-independence period saw the rise of regional parties like the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC), Action Group (AG), and Northern People’s Congress (NPC), which championed regional interests while laying the groundwork for political pluralism. However, the subsequent decades were marked by political instability, military coups, and authoritarian regimes, stunting the development of institutionalised and robust political parties.

With the return to civilian rule in 1999, the political landscape shifted dramatically. Parties such as the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) emerged as dominant forces, later joined by the All Progressives Congress (APC). Despite this evolution, Nigerian political parties have struggled to fulfil their roles as pillars of democracy effectively.

Challenges persist across several critical areas. Internal democracy remains weak, as many parties lack the structures and systems to support inclusive decision-making and long-term planning. Marginalized groups, including women, young people, and persons with disabilities, continue to face significant barriers to meaningful participation, despite party constitutions that profess inclusivity. Financial opacity and the absence of accountability mechanisms have further eroded public trust, while the limited capacity of parties to engage constructively with citizens has hindered their ability to address critical societal needs.

Despite these systemic challenges, there have been incremental improvements. Reforms like the Not-Too-Young-to-Run Act, advocacy for increased women’s political participation, and the establishment of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) to foster collaboration among parties are commendable steps. However, these measures, while promising, remain insufficient to ensure accountability, inclusivity, or performance excellence within political parties.

As the cornerstone of democratic governance, Nigeria’s political parties must rise to meet the expectations of the citizens they aim to serve. The need for innovative mechanisms to address these persistent challenges has never been more urgent, paving the way for the introduction of the Political Party Performance Index (PPPI).

The Political Party Performance Index (PPPI) represents a groundbreaking initiative aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s democracy by enhancing the accountability, inclusivity, and transparency of political parties. Developed by the Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD), the PPPI offers a systematic and objective evaluation of political parties, focusing on their adherence to democratic principles of inclusion, public outreach, and legal compliance.

Rooted in years of research, collaboration with political actors, civil society, and development partners, the PPPI emerges as a response to longstanding challenges in Nigeria’s political party system. It seeks to bridge the gap between party promises and performance, providing parties with a structured framework to assess and improve their operations.

While the PPPI is an innovative tool, it draws inspiration from established indices such as the Western Balkans Political Parties Transparency Index, Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index, the African Peer Review Mechanism, the United Nations Human Development Index, and the Queen’s University Electoral Integrity Project. Adapted to Nigeria’s unique political context, the PPPI is built around three core pillars critical to deepening democracy:

1. Inclusivity Practices
   This dimension assesses how political parties create opportunities for equal participation and decision-making, particularly for underrepresented groups such as women, young people, and persons with disabilities. It evaluates the openness of parties at national and sub-national levels, examining their policies, actions, and representation of marginalized groups in decision-making structures and electoral processes. Through fostering inclusivity, political parties can empower all segments of society to contribute to governance and nation-building.
2. Legal Compliance
   The PPPI measures the extent to which political parties adhere to internal regulations, national laws, and statutory guidelines. This includes compliance with party constitutions, manifestos, financial regulations, and the Electoral Act, as well as constitutional provisions. Legal compliance underscores the importance of accountability, ensuring that parties operate within the frameworks established by regulatory bodies such as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs).
3. Public Outreach
   This pillar evaluates how political parties communicate with their members and the broader public. It examines the accessibility of party information, the use of traditional and new media, and innovative outreach strategies to engage citizens, particularly young people. Effective public outreach fosters trust, enhances participation, and strengthens the connection between political parties and the electorate.

These dimensions address critical gaps in the Nigerian political landscape. Studies, including WFD’s research on the 2023 elections, highlight the shortcomings of political parties in promoting inclusivity, adhering to regulations, and engaging with the public. For example, women, youth, and persons with disabilities remain underrepresented in governance, and many parties fail to comply with internal and statutory guidelines or prioritize effective communication strategies.

The PPPI is designed to incentivize political parties to adopt reforms aligned with democratic ideals. By evaluating their performance across these pillars, the PPPI encourages parties to democratize their internal structures, improve transparency, and broaden their outreach to citizens. A robust party system rooted in accountability and inclusivity is essential to fostering a vibrant democracy where citizens play active roles in decision-making and governance.

The Political Party Performance Index (PPPI) aims to enhance the functionality and inclusivity of political parties in Nigeria by providing a robust framework for assessment and accountability. The specific objectives include:

1. Measure Inclusivity: Measuring the level of political participation, representation, and inclusion of marginalized groups, including women, youth, and persons with disabilities, within political parties.
2. Evaluating Legal Compliance: Determining the extent to which political parties comply with constitutional, legal, and regulatory guidelines, including codes of conduc, party Constitution, electoral act 2022 and the Electoral Act.
3. Assessing Public Engagement: Evaluating political parties’ effectiveness in public outreach, including communication, mobilization, and orientation programs aimed at engaging both internal and external stakeholders.

The overarching goal is to strengthen Nigeria’s democratic institutions by fostering transparency, accountability, and inclusivity in political parties, ultimately promoting public trust and citizen engagement in governance.

The methodology of the PPPI is integral to the Nigerian Open Political Party (NOPP) project, implemented by Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD) with the Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI) leading on the conduct of the pilot PPPI. It employs a comprehensive data-driven and stakeholder-engaged approach, structured as follows:

1. Framework of Assessment
   The PPPI evaluates political parties based on three key pillars, each weighted equally with a maximum of 100 points, culminating in a total score of 300 points:

Inclusivity Practices (PPIP): Focused on the representation of marginalized groups.

Legal Compliance (PPLC): Assessed through adherence to the Electoral Act, party constitutions, and regulatory frameworks.

Public Outreach (PPPO): Evaluating activities aimed at engaging the public and fostering transparency.

Each pillar is broken into specific indicators, some requiring yes/no answers and others needing detailed responses. Evidence to validate claims will be sourced from party officials, public records, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

2. Targeted Assessment Scope The PPPI will assess all 19 registered political parties in Nigeria as of November 2024, focusing on their performance at the national and state levels.

3. Data Collection Process The data collection process will be conducted in three phases:
4. Desk-Based Research: Experts will collect publicly available information from libraries, websites, news articles, and other open sources.
5. Political Party Data Collection: Trained enumerators will gather data from designated officials within each party, targeting the Party Executives.
6. INEC Validation: Experts will validate data collected from political parties through cross-referencing with INEC records and officials.

4. Scoring and Reporting Points are allocated across the three pillars, with each question weighted to reflect its importance. The scoring system ensures equal emphasis on inclusivity, legal compliance, and public outreach, recognizing their collective significance in deepening democracy.
5. Validation and Reporting Upon completing data collection and analysis:
6. The draft report undergoes internal peer review and is presented to political parties and stakeholders for validation.
7. Two types of reports will be produced:

Individual Reports: Detailed analysis for each party, highlighting results and recommendations.

Public Report: Aggregated findings showcasing trends, party rankings, and overall performance.

6. Public Engagement The final public report will be shared with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the regulatory body for political parties, civil society organizations (CSOs), academia, media and other relevant stakeholders promoting transparency and encouraging discourse on the key results and trends from the index.

We envision a transformative impact. The PPPI will empower citizens with the information needed to hold political parties accountable. It will serve as a tool for advocacy, enabling civil society to push for necessary reforms. Political parties, in turn, will benefit from actionable insights that guide their development and align them more closely with democratic values.

Ultimately, the PPPI aspires to foster a political culture where inclusion, accountability, and transparency are not just ideals but the lived realities of Nigeria’s democracy.

This initiative represents a collective effort to reshape the political landscape in Nigeria. We invite all Nigerians, political actors, and stakeholders to join us on this transformative journey. Together, we can create a more inclusive, accountable, and democratic future for our nation.