Elections in Nigeria: A Contemporary Analysis

In the contemporary world of today, elections have become the most accepted means of changing leadership in any given political system. Election ordinarily, in most democratic states is usually conducted by an institution set up by law in any given society. The principal mechanism for translating the consent of the governed into governmental authority is the holding of free and fair election. History has shown that it is usually difficult to hold elections that are completely free and fair. Even the United States (US) election that led to the victory of President Bush was alleged to be marred with irregularities in the State of Florida. Studies of elections have revealed that transiting from one regime to another is often the problem in most African states. For instance, the recent elections in Kenya were reported to be seriously flawed and impacted by irregularities in vote tabulation and reporting of results just like the election debacle in Cote d’Ivoire between Laurent Gbagbo and Alassane Quattarra to mention just a few. In Nigeria, the 1999, 2003 and 2007 Presidential elections were reported to be marred by irregularities by foreign and local observers. Against these backdrop is the general consensus among scholars, political activists, and well-meaning Nigerians of the need for electoral reforms. This paper examines elections, electoral reforms and political development in Nigeria within the last 12 years. It reveals how since independence, the various phases of Nigeria’s democracy has been shrouded with electoral credibility and regime legitimacy questions, and highlighting specifically the challenges and opportunities for electoral reforms in Nigeria. The paper proffers measures as the way forward and ended with a conclusion.

Abstract: In every democratic state the world over election is regarded as the heart of liberal democracy. Elections are seen as the hallmark of democracy because it gives an avenue for peaceful change of government and legitimizes the new administration. For a government to be legitimate, the Electoral process must be in line with the dictates of the electoral laws as enshrined in the regulatory framework. The study laid emphasis on the electoral process with a view to examine the extent of adherence with the provisions of the 2010 Electoral Act as amended which was used for the conduct of the 2015 general elections in Nigeria. The study utilizes secondary source of data and content analysis as its methodology. The paper argues that there were gross violations of the 2010 Electoral Act by the ruling elite during the electioneering process which has negatively affected the electoral process in the conduct of the 2015 general elections. The study recommends that an Independent Commission be set up by the government in order to monitor and ensure that politicians adhere to the rules of the game as well as the setting up of an Electoral Offences Court in order to prosecute and punish offenders. Keywords: Abuse, Democracy, Elections, Electoral Act, Electoral Process

Historia Actual Online, 2010

This paper gives a brief insight into the history of democratic elections in Nigeria since 1959. It proceeds to analyse the factors that have inhibited the growth of a stable democracy and the conduct of credible, free and fair elections in Nigeria. An attempt is also made to explain the meaning, nature and forms of electoral malpractices in Nigeria. The resultant crises and the way forward for the Nigerian polity have also been brought under focus. In all, the paper concludes that the lack of credible, free and fair elections in Nigeria has been responsible for the social, economic, and political stagnation of the country.

This paper, Nigeria's democracy and electoral process: reflections of electoral irregularities & adjudication scanned the existing norm that believes democracy to be one of the best forms of government through an x-ray of Nigeria's electoral democracy. Today, Nigeria's democracy and electoral process reflects myriads of electoral irregularities accompanied with bias electoral adjudications, some contemporary scholars argued. In order to buttress the facts, this paper amidst other issues assessed the reflections of electoral process and adjudications on Nigeria's democracy and as a result employed the Marxists theoretical framework, gathered data from secondary source and used content analysis approach to analyse the phenomenon. The paper realised that Nigeria's democracy reflects the interplay of electoral process and adjudication irregularities as these are organically and intricately linked, also that elections are central to democracy even though not all electoral outcomes are democratic. Based on the research findings, among other recommendations, the researcher suggested the need for sound management and adjudication of electoral irregularities and disputes as the pinnacle for a good electoral process and democratic consolidation in Nigeria.

The major reason for selecting leaders through elections according to rules and regulations is to guarantee political and social stability. This submission, however, appears to have lost its value as elections in Nigeria have always ended in bitter struggles, rigging and violence. Elections, rather than reflecting the will of the people with regard to who represents them, are only conducted as merely a regular ritual by the political class to renew the allotted power of its members. Nigeria is fast derailing into one of the pseudo democracies that pervade developing countries, with little or no regard for the will of the electorate. The country’s democracy has grossly been bedeviled with flawed elections at all levels of government, having more of imposed leaders than elected. Elections are conducted as a means of alternating power among the competing political gladiators, mostly in a violent manner that reflects desperation and as such erodes the legitimizing effects of election on democracy. This essay explores some of the variables that continually seek to undermine the power of the electorate and why they seem to be helpless. It also attempts to assess the four consecutive elections that took place between 1999 (when the country emerged from uninterrupted sixteen years of military authoritarianism), and 2011 (the last date involving elections nationwide). More importantly, the overlapping interface between electoral process and legitimacy crisis is examined while some of the daunting challenges facing Nigeria’s electoral process are highlighted. The general elections conducted so far, that is 1998/99, 2003, 2007 and 2011 elections, are examined below, being the scope of this essay.

Abstract: In every democratic state the world over election is regarded as the heart of liberal democracy. Elections are seen as the hallmark of democracy because it gives an avenue for peaceful change of government and legitimizes the new administration. For a government to be legitimate, the Electoral process must be in line with the dictates of the electoral laws as enshrined in the regulatory framework. The study laid emphasis on the electoral process with a view to examine the extent of adherence with the provisions of the 2010 Electoral Act as amended which was used for the conduct of the 2015 general elections in Nigeria. The study utilizes secondary source of data and content analysis as its methodology. The paper argues that there were gross violations of the 2010 Electoral Act by the ruling elite during the electioneering process which has negatively affected the electoral process in the conduct of the 2015 general elections. The study recommends that an Independent Commission be set up by the government in order to monitor and ensure that politicians adhere to the rules of the game as well as the setting up of an Electoral Offenses Court in order to prosecute and punish offenders. Keywords: Abuse, Democracy, Elections, Electoral Act, Electoral Process

It is a known fact that election is a yardstick to democratic system in any society. Infact, what determines the beauty of a democracy is the conduct of free and fair election. However, Nigeria's democratisation processes have always been marred with electoral irregularities,flaws and manipulations.Since the inception of independent government in 1960,the county's electoral bodies have always been faced with hurdle of conducting elections that would be applauded by both local and international observers.This makes it imperative in this paper to explore electoral politcs and Nigeria's democratic process.The paper infers that untill free and fair election is ensured in the country,enhancing democratic virtues may be a mirage.

Nigeria’s electoral politics from independence has been tumultuous. Violence has continued to mar the conduct of almost all general elections,making free and fair elections a desideratum. Thus, electoral violence has proved to be Nigeria’s harbinger of national instability as unabated festering irregularities that manifest at different stages of election subject almost all Nigeria’s election below the minimum democracy standard. However, for elections to be termed democratic, it must be free and fair.In view of this,the thrust of this paper is a reflection on the tides of electoral violence and the attendant precipitating factors that makefree and fair election pretty difficult in Nigeria.This paper however concludes with recommend ations of policy options to remedy the menace of electoral violence in Nigeria

The conduct of free and fair elections provides a yardstick to measure the quality of democracy in a country. Credible elections are the platform on which the populace partakes in democracy by electing representatives of their choice as public office holders. This process enhances the confidence of voters in democratisation, and rekindles the prospect of consolidating democratic institutions, particularly in democratising states. The conduct of elections in Nigeria since 1999 has been inundated with spiralling malpractices in the electioneering process. The trend has worsened with each round of elections, as typified by the 1999, 2003 and 2007 polls. During these three elections, rigging, violence and intimidation flourished. How do such malpractices affect the quality of Nigeria's democracy? How do electoral malpractices affect the outcome of elections in Nigeria? Can democracy be consolidated in Nigeria in the face of elections that do not reflect the will of the voters? How can Nigeria chart a credible path towards stabilising the country's democracy? This paper presents qualitative data and an analysis of the above questions. I argue that it is not the regularity of elections that can strengthen democratic heritage in Nigeria, but how transparent the country's electoral process is.

2013

It is a known fact that election is a yardstick to democratic system in any society. Infact, what determines the beauty of a democracy is the conduct of free and fair election. However, Nigeria's democratisation processes have always been marred with electoral irregularities,flaws and manipulations.Since the inception of independent government in 1960,the county's electoral bodies have always been faced with hurdle of conducting elections that would be applauded by both local and international observers.This makes it imperative in this paper to explore electoral politcs and Nigeria's democratic process.The paper infers that untill free and fair election is ensured in the country,enhancing democratic virtues may be a mirage.