Expanding Deliberative Town Halls to Nigeria

In 2024, IDEA expanded Deliberative Town Hall research into Nigeria, building on successes in Australia, the UK, and Chile. IDEA Fellow Marco Castradori, a PhD candidate at Princeton who had lived in Nigeria and cultivated relationships with elected officials, spearheaded the effort.

“It was an incredible new opportunity,” said Dr. Michael Neblo, IDEA’s director. “IDEA had already expanded beyond the U.S., working in countries like Australia and the U.K., and even gaining valuable experience in Chile, a non-English-speaking country in the Global South.”   

However, Nigeria presented a distinct set of challenges and opportunities. We needed to adapt our online town halls to a context with lower internet access and find ways to share background information in a country with widely varying literacy.

“The prospect of exploring how Deliberative Town Halls could function in a rapidly growing, diverse, and dynamic nation like Nigeria, which is poised to become the world’s third-most-populous country by 2050, was both exciting and immensely rewarding,” Neblo said. “It was an unparalleled chance to strengthen democracy in such a critical context.”

Adapting the DTH Model

IDEA collaborated closely to develop survey instruments for the experiment. Rather than text, we disseminated background materials through video to ensure that all citizens could access the necessary information before the event. 

Due to limited and unreliable internet access, Marco and our partner in Nigeria, NOI Polls, established six in-person locations with internet connectivity. We connected with these locations via a Zoom meeting with the participating members of the National Assembly.

In-person facilitators at these locations collected questions and comments from participants and transmitted them to the central moderation team.

Bringing Citizens and Representatives Together

In January 2024, we facilitated discussions between citizens in two districts, Bende and Baruten/Kaiama, and their respective representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu and Hon. Mohammed Omar Bio.

The discussions focused on governance, with participants debating whether “small, incremental steps” or “radical reforms” would be the most effective approach. Citizens in both Bende and Baruten/Kaiama favored gradual improvements, emphasizing the importance of consistent, small steps to strengthen democracy.

Participants in Baruten/Kaiama leaned toward addressing national concerns, as illustrated by one participant’s remark:

“This meeting exhibits unity; unity is imperative for our community, state, and Nigeria.”

Participants in Bende echoed this sentiment, emphasizing national issues without neglecting local concerns.

Key Findings

1. Increased Approval of Members

   The DTHs boosted Hon. Kalu’s and Hon. Bio’s approval ratings and reelection prospects, positively influencing even non-attendees. The events also enhanced constituents’ perceptions of the representatives, associating them with positive traits and fewer negative characteristics.

2.  Increased Preference for Democratic Reform

   After the DTH, there was an approximate 5% increase in the prioritization of “making good laws for the whole country” among respondents in both regions, indicating a shift toward national rather than parochial goals. There was also a 7% increase in the preference for legislators to work for all Nigerians rather than just fight for their region.

3. Infrastructure Priorities

   Healthcare and education were prioritized over roads and electricity, with specific projects such as a diagnostics center in Bende and a University of Agriculture in Kaiama being preferred.

4. Diverse Demographic Participation

   Both town halls successfully engaged a diverse, representative set of participants.

5. High Satisfaction With DTHs and Demand for More

   Participants expressed high satisfaction with the experience and a strong desire for more DTHs, indicating a willingness to engage in future events.

6. Strong Potential for Spillover Effects

   The positive impact on attendees and non-attendees suggests that DTHs could significantly enhance democratic engagement and strengthen connections between Nigerian citizens and their representatives.

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