Electoral Process in Nigeria
Elections in Nigeria are nothing but dramatised rituals that seek to legitimate the power structure of the ruling class
By
NGOVE, PETER PEVER
Being an M. Sc seminar presentation in the department of Political Science, Benue State University, Makurdi.
ABSTRACT
The concept of election has been defined in this work as the process by which the people choose their leaders. Nigeria’s democratic experience has been faced with the question of credibility of our electoral process and elections. In other words, our elections have been challenged as not been free and fair. This has posed serious legitimacy question for our leaders .This paper has briefly assessed elections in Nigeria with particular emphasis on the recent ones(i.e 2003 and 2007) and has identified: massive rigging, violence, manipulation of election materials and records, lack of transparency on the part of electoral officials, delay of voting time, deliberate denial of funds for INEC, suspension and expulsion of party members for so-called anti party activities, among others as perpetual characteristic of Nigeria’s electoral processes. The ruling class in their desperate motive to perpetuate themselves or their cronies in power masterminds these ills. The way forward suggested is that, all the stakeholders must do the right things for Nigeria’s electoral process to be truly democratic so that power will revert to the electorates. INEC should sign onto the political parties and of course all contestants, code of conduct which must be observed throughout the preparation and conduct of every election in the country. The new electoral law provides for direct funding of the Electoral Commission (INEC) from the federation account. This should be made to work so as to guard against unholy situations where Executive heads starve the commission of funds in order to whip the management into conformity.
1.0 INTRODUCTION In an emerging democracy like Nigeria’s, election is considered a
By
NGOVE, PETER PEVER
Being an M. Sc seminar presentation in the department of Political Science, Benue State University, Makurdi.
ABSTRACT
The concept of election has been defined in this work as the process by which the people choose their leaders. Nigeria’s democratic experience has been faced with the question of credibility of our electoral process and elections. In other words, our elections have been challenged as not been free and fair. This has posed serious legitimacy question for our leaders .This paper has briefly assessed elections in Nigeria with particular emphasis on the recent ones(i.e 2003 and 2007) and has identified: massive rigging, violence, manipulation of election materials and records, lack of transparency on the part of electoral officials, delay of voting time, deliberate denial of funds for INEC, suspension and expulsion of party members for so-called anti party activities, among others as perpetual characteristic of Nigeria’s electoral processes. The ruling class in their desperate motive to perpetuate themselves or their cronies in power masterminds these ills. The way forward suggested is that, all the stakeholders must do the right things for Nigeria’s electoral process to be truly democratic so that power will revert to the electorates. INEC should sign onto the political parties and of course all contestants, code of conduct which must be observed throughout the preparation and conduct of every election in the country. The new electoral law provides for direct funding of the Electoral Commission (INEC) from the federation account. This should be made to work so as to guard against unholy situations where Executive heads starve the commission of funds in order to whip the management into conformity.
1.0 INTRODUCTION In an emerging democracy like Nigeria’s, election is considered a
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