Inconclusive Gubernatorial Elections and Democratic Consolidation in Nigeria

Texto Academico , 2023 , 25 Páginas

Política - Región: África

This study investigates how irregularity-ridden inconclusive gubernatorial elections (IGEs) undermined the practice of democracy within the context of Nigeria. It contends that Nigerian leaders primarily seek power for their lots against the service-driven notion of politics. They achieve this by controlling major electoral institutions and ensuring their unending 'tomic' autonomy. Data are collected using a documentary method and analysed using content analysis.

The analysis reveals that the IGEs have become a new tool for election manipulation in Nigeria against the democratic principle of free choice. It further reveals that the perceived benefits associated with public offices heighten the unbridled quest for power in Nigeria, which suggests the need for bottom-up (voter-driven) electoral reform, in which the consideration of margin of lead should be based on voters with permanent voter cards/voter turnout as against the prevailing shady registered voters.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Objectives of the study

The concept and legality of inconclusive elections in Nigeria

Understanding democratic consolidation

The postcolonial character of state in Africa

Methodology

Results

Electoral Irregularities and Credible Elections in Nigeria

Electoral violence and voter participation in Nigeria

Inconclusive election: A global phenomenon

Conclusion

References

Research Objectives and Themes

This study investigates the symbiotic link between inconclusive gubernatorial elections, characterized by electoral irregularities and violence, and the process of democratic consolidation in Nigeria between 2011 and 2023. It aims to reveal how such elections undermine democratic practice and to propose a voter-driven electoral reform model.

• The impact of inconclusive elections on democratic consolidation in Nigeria.
• The role of electoral irregularities and violence in manipulating election outcomes.
• The analysis of institutional and constitutional factors influencing electoral integrity.
• A comparison of inconclusive election trends in Nigeria versus global occurrences.
• Developing a bottom-up, voter-centric approach to electoral reform.

Excerpt from the Book

The concept and legality of inconclusive elections in Nigeria

Due to the importance of elections in democratic settings and the strategic position Nigeria occupies in Africa, elections in Nigeria have attracted both local and foreign observations. Secondly, the surge in IGEs has not only become alarming, but also is threatening the democratic role of gubernatorial elections. The IGEs entail the inability of election management authority to timely determine or make the final announcement of a winner in the first round of the governorship poll. Put differently, there are two rounds of elections, that is, first and second. The first round is inhibited from producing a winner owing to electoral irregularities that lead to the margin of lead controversy, delay in the electoral process, and make a final determination of a winner impossible (Independent National Electoral Commission [INEC] 2019).

The inconclusive election is not an aberration in Nigeria as elsewhere in the world as some social commentators would argue. This argument emanates from the fact that the 1999 Constitution was imposed on Nigeria by an indigenous neo-colonial military regime and the idea of imposition does not exist in the catalogue of democracy, which the country rhetorically claims to operate. Secondly, anti-inconclusive election critics contend that such an election is not expressly provided in the Constitution. However, impliedly, an inconclusive election is a constitutional issue in Nigeria. For instance, Sections 133 and 134 of the Constitution capture the constitutional requirements for an election to the office of President of Nigeria. In the same way, Section 179 also provides similar requirements for an election to the office of the Governor of a state (Federal Republic of Nigeria [FRN] 1999).

Summary of Chapters

Introduction: Provides the background on Nigerian electoral democracy since the fourth republic and introduces the problem of inconclusive gubernatorial elections.

The concept and legality of inconclusive elections in Nigeria: Examines how the inability to declare winners in the first round due to irregularities necessitates supplementary polls under Nigerian constitutional law.

Understanding democratic consolidation: Defines the theoretical framework of democratic consolidation as both a process and a goal, emphasizing the need for free, fair, and credible elections.

The postcolonial character of state in Africa: Utilizes Alavi’s postcolonial state theory to explain the warped conception of power and politics among Nigerian political elites.

Methodology: Outlines the documentary research and content analysis strategy used to investigate election trends and associated irregularities.

Results: Presents empirical evidence linking electoral irregularities, violence, and the margin of lead principle to the persistent declaration of inconclusive elections.

Inconclusive election: A global phenomenon: Contextualizes Nigerian election struggles by comparing them with inconclusive election trends observed in established democracies like Spain and Italy.

Conclusion: Summarizes the study’s findings and calls for bottom-up electoral reforms to restore the credibility of the Nigerian electoral system.

Keywords

Elections, electoral irregularities, inconclusive governorship elections, voter participation, Nigeria, democratic consolidation, electoral violence, public office, margin of lead, INEC, supplementary elections, voting rights, electoral reform, political legitimacy, election results.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the core focus of this research?

The research examines how inconclusive gubernatorial elections, driven by irregularities and violence, hinder the consolidation of democracy in Nigeria.

What are the primary themes discussed in the work?

Central themes include electoral malpractice, the manipulation of election results by political actors, the constitutional framework of elections, and the impact of these factors on voter turnout and democratic stability.

What is the ultimate goal of this study?

The goal is to analyze the correlation between inconclusive elections and democratic decay, ultimately arguing for a bottom-up electoral reform led by voters rather than government entities.

Which scientific method is applied?

The study employs a documentary research method and content analysis to interpret textual data from election reports, legal documents, and scholarly articles.

What does the main body describe?

The main sections cover the concept and legality of inconclusive elections, theoretical frameworks of postcolonial states, empirical evidence of election manipulation, and comparisons with global election trends.

Which keywords define this publication?

The publication is defined by terms such as electoral irregularities, inconclusive governorship elections, democratic consolidation, voter participation, and political legitimacy in Nigeria.

How does the margin of lead principle (MoLP) affect election outcomes?

The MoLP is used by the INEC to declare elections inconclusive when the number of cancelled votes exceeds the margin between the two leading candidates, often serving as a tool for political manipulation.

How do the authors differentiate between Nigerian and developed countries' inconclusive elections?

While developed nations face inconclusive results often due to technical or constitutional impasses, in Nigeria, such ends are frequently manufactured through orchestrated violence and fraud.

What role do Nigerian security and electoral institutions play?

The study highlights how these institutions often lack autonomy and are susceptible to predatory control by politicians, which compromises their impartiality during elections.

• Universidad: University of Nigeria
• Autor: Uchenna C. Obiagu (Autor)
• Año de publicación: 2023
• Páginas: 25
• No. de catálogo: V1379377
• ISBN (PDF): 9783346919267
• ISBN (Libro): 9783346919274
• Idioma: Inglés
• Etiqueta: elections, electoral irregularities, inconclusive governorship elections, voter participation, nigeria