Corruption and Credible Electoral Process in Nigeria 2007-2015 All
CHAPTER ONE
OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
The main objectives of this study are as follows;
- To investigate all the effects of corruption in the Nigeria Electoral System.
- To identify and examine the general causes of corruption which can be attributed to electoral malpractices.
- To identify the ways, through which corruption can be eradicated to facilitate Credible Electoral system in Nigeria.
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
Introduction
The lost of sovereignty by various polities that dotted Nigerian landscape at the beginning of the twentieth century and the subsequent amalgamation of 1914 that tried to create a nation out of the multi-cultural and political institutions, the evolution of acceptable government at the centre most especially through free and fair election has been a matter of concern. This has become a matter of debate for individuals, groups, professionals, politicians, academia, and opinion leaders in and outside the country. This stem from the nature and outcome of elections and subsequent collapse of the First Republic (1960 – 1966) and the Second Republic (1979 – 1983), the abortion of the Third Republic and the outcry that has followed the birth of Fourth Republic (1999) and the subsequent elections of 2003 , 2007 and 2011. The outcry, violence and the collapse that greeted electioneering in Nigeria since independence was due to inability of elections to produce outcomes mutually agreeable to all competing social groups which are politically active within a given polity.
In a democratic setting, periodic elections if carefully, freely and fairly undertaken gives legitimacy to the government and holds the promise of stabilizing political institutions most especially in a multi-ethnic nation like Nigeria63 . Election thus became the major acceptable means of getting to power or losing it if properly conducted and votes count. Thus king observed that; Election may provide means of selecting between competing alternatives and thus make for the smooth transfer or transition of political power from one set of power holder to another. 64 Despite elections being very fundamental in installation, transition and consolidation of democratic government, it does not guaranty sustainable democratic transition and consolidation. This is so when elections are conducted but peoples’ vote does not count, or people have no choice in their representatives and leaders due to subversion or manipulation of the entire electoral process. The subversion or manipulation of electoral process either by individuals, groups, political parties or institutions amount to political corruption or rather electoral corruption. Corruption means many things to many people depending on one’s position and perception. In this paper the position of Saliu and Aremu is adopted as “a violation of the moral ethos to confer personal advantage on self or acquaintances.” Electoral corruption can therefore be infer as all actions or in action of individuals, groups or institutions in aiding, abating and subversion of electoral process either by use of words, media (print or not), thugs, violence, money and state apparatus to confer undue advantage on oneself, acquaintance or political party. As corruption has the influencing power of diminishing state capacity to meet its material and welfare obligations to the citizenry, electoral corruption succinctly installed, sustained and consolidates bad governance through electoral fraud. This has characterized Nigeria system from independence, hence, the paper attempt to appraised corrupt practices in the electoral system.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Introduction
This chapter deals with the method used in collecting data required in carrying out this research work it explains the procedures that were followed and the instrument used in collecting data.
Sources of data collection
Data were collected from two main sources namely:
(i)Primary source and
(ii)Secondary source
Primary source:
These are materials of statistical investigation which were collected by the research for a particular purpose. They can be obtained through a survey, observation questionnaire or as experiment, the researcher has adopted the questionnaire method for this study.
Secondary source:
These are data from textbook Journal handset etc. they arise as by products of the same other purposes. Example administration, various other unpublished works and write ups were also used.
Population of the study
Population of a study is a group of persons or aggregate items, things the researcher is interested in getting information from for the corruption and credible electoral process in Nigeria. 200 staff of independent national electoral commission Akwa Ibom state chapter was selected randomly by the researcher as the population of the study.
CHAPTER FOUR
PRESENTATION ANALYSIS INTERPRETATION OF DATA
Introduction
Efforts will be made at this stage to present, analyze and interpret the data collected during the field survey. This presentation will be based on the responses from the completed questionnaires. The result of this exercise will be summarized in tabular forms for easy references and analysis. It will also show answers to questions relating to the research questions for this research study. The researcher employed simple percentage in the analysis.
DATA ANALYSIS
The data collected from the respondents were analyzed in tabular form with simple percentage for easy understanding.
A total of 133(one hundred and thirty three) questionnaires were distributed and 133 questionnaires were returned.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Introduction
It is important to ascertain that the objective of this study was to ascertain the effect of corruption and credibility of electoral process in Nigeria.
In the preceding chapter, the relevant data collected for this study were presented, critically analyzed and appropriate interpretation given. In this chapter, certain recommendations made which in the opinion of the researcher will be of benefits in addressing the challenge of corruption and credible electoral process in Nigeria.
Summary
The challenge of credibility of electoral process in Nigeria has been retarded by the abuse of power of incumbency by those in power. This has been sustained due to the fact that they have the state apparatus to control the election machineries. The chances of the opposition forming government are on thin line, this distorts electoral process lead to malpractices in elections. We conclude this paper with the assertion that incumbency really impinges on the electoral processes and hinders good governance in Nigeria. This situation is prevalent in many other African countries and this has accounted for low level participation of citizenry and exposed the country’s democracy to danger.
Conclusion
Consolidation and survival of democracy depends on the periodic conduct of acceptable and competitive free and fair elections. The conduct of such elections rest on the institutional framework put in place to guaranty compliance in the activities of the stake holders. Among such stake holders and the traditional rulers who are believe to be custodian of people’s culture and tradition. However, studies have shown that the activities of these stake holders have been beset by corrupt actions that put constraint to free elections. Despite the continuous poor organization and conduct of elections due to corrupt practices, all hope is not lost in getting it right in the future conduct. However the following are suggested to minimize corrupt practices towards credible election
Recommendation
Haven successfully completed the study; the following recommendations were made by the researcher
The composition of electoral management body (INEC) should be removed from the executive to the judiciary. The tenure of office of the chairman and commissioners be constitutional guaranteed and not tie to term. A justice of the Court of Appeal can be appointed as its chairman and hold forth till retirement. The funding of the electoral body should not be tied to the executive but provisionally provided in the consolidated fund from the constitution. The number of political parties should be reduced to two to avoid ethnic, religion or regional politics.
Funding of political parties should be regulated. Donation from individuals and cooperate organizations to political parties be pegged. Internal democracy among the political parties should be encouraged to avoid clientage system. Traditional rulers who wish to be partisan should be encouraged to resign and go into politics.
References
- Egwemi and E.K Enojo, “Electoral Corruption in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic: The place of Political Parties and Godfathers”. Lapai Journal of Central Nigeria History. V.4/5. N. 1&2, 2011 p.116.
- M.L Salahu, Free and Fair Elections and its challenges to the People and Polity of Nigeria in the 21st Century” Arts and Social Sciences Forum Journal V.1, N,I, 2003, p22
- M.C King, Localism and Nation Building, Ibadan, Spectrum, 1988 p.106.
- H.A. Saliv and F.A Aremu, A Critical Analysis of the Anti-Corruption Crusade in Nigeria Political science review, 26 V.3 N.I, 2004.
- Crowder, The Story of Nigeria, London, Faber and Faber, p.256.
- Leo Dare, the 1964 Election s and the Collapse of the First Republic in Nigeria since Independence. V.5. p116 Enojo, op.cit p.87
- S.M. Lawal and A.A. Wushishi, Politics and Political Parties in the Fourth Republic, Reflections on the Peoples Democratic Party “T.N. Sunday and T.Wuam (eds) Parties and Politics in Nigeria, 1999-2009, Makurdi, Aboki, 2010 p.116
