EXTERNAL DYNAMICS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE EMERGENCE OF NIGERIA’S FOURTH REPUBLIC

Abstract

The External dynamics responsible for Nigeria’s fourth republic has received significant attention in the history of Nigeria’s democratization process. Perhaps, the study contributes as accurately as scholarly possible the external dynamics responsible for the emergence of Nigeria’s fourth republic in 1999. This contribution aims to identify the global trend of political changes towards democracy that influenced emergence of Nigeria’s fourth republic. In addition, the processes of these dynamics have been critically analysed. Qualitative research method is adopted, in which both primary and secondary data were used in this study. The target respondents interviewed through purposive sampling technique involved Nigerian politicians, electoral officers, non-governmental organizations and the academics. The findings revealed that the external factors have considerably tailored the re-emergence of democracy in Nigeria in 1999. The study therefore documents how external pressure and global appeal for democracy have shaped the transition to Nigeria’s fourth republic. This study concludes that powerful countries and international organizations influence and promotes democratization through imposition of sanction or isolation. Other influencing factors include incentives through international democratic institutions as well as the impact of snowballing that affects the third wave democracies. The study recommends respect for human rights and other principles of democracy that could encourage powerful and influential democracies and democratic organizations to further assist Nigeria to strengthen its fourth republic.