Electoral Malpractice and Democratic Consolidation in Nigeria. a Study of Fourth Republic
CHAPTER ONE
Objective of the study
The main focus of this study is to examine electoral malpractice and the consolidation of democracy in the fourth republic. Specifically the study seeks
- To examine the nature of electoral malpractice acclamatized in Nigeria Election
- To examine whether the lack of INEC autonomy contributed to election malpractice in 2015 general elections in Nigeria.
- To examine the implication of electoral malpractice on Nigeria Democracy.
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
INTRODUCTION
Our focus in this chapter is to critically examine relevant literature that would assist in explaining the research problem and furthermore recognize the efforts of scholars who had previously contributed immensely to similar research. The chapter intends to deepen the understanding of the study and close the perceived gaps.
CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK
ELECTION
Election, the formal process of selecting a person for public office or of accepting or rejecting a political proposition by voting. It is important to distinguish between the form and the substance of elections. In some cases, electoral forms are present but the substance of an election is missing, as when voters do not have a free and genuine choice between at least two alternatives. Most countries hold elections in at least the formal sense, but in many of them the elections are not competitive (e.g., all but one party may be forbidden to contest) or the electoral situation is in other respects highly compromised.
In a democracy, elections serve as an important mechanism and viable means that ensure orderliness in the process of leadership succession and change. It gives legitimacy and political authority to every administration. Elections play dominant roles in a democracy and these roles are hugely circumscribed in terms of portraying the popular will, inculcating political changes and actualization of regimes legitimacy. Schumpeter (1947) notes that democracy ensures that the people have the opportunity of accepting or refusing the men who are to rule them, this means that democracy is all about conducting elections and choosing political leaders. Elections ensure how popular a government is and it reveals the social pact that exist between the govern and the governed and this illustrates the basis of political authority, legitimacy and citizens’ obligations. It also helps to shape and sharpened political accountability between the governors and governed via reciprocity and exchange. As Sandbrook (1988) posit: Elections and the struggle for power are essential because it gives the oppressed classes the chance to put the question of alternative ideologies on the agenda and therefore constitute an important stage in the socialist quest to extend democratic control to the social and economic as well as political sphere. However, for elections to thrive there should be the establishment of a well defined, competent, relatively independent and non-partisan electoral body that will be responsible for the conduct of elections. There is need for the existence of impartial judiciary that will interpret electoral laws and as well as adjudicate on electoral matters. Mass media devoid of influence from the politicians should be instituted together with police force that will help supervise the conduct of an election. Jinadu, (1995) and Adejumobi, (1997) concur that: There should be electoral laws guiding the conduct of an election, organization of political parties, voters’ registration, nomination of candidates for elective public office, balloting , ballot-counting and the declaration of election results as this will give credence to the success of elections.
CHAPTER THREE
FACTORS CHALLENGING ELECTIONS AND DEMOCRATIC CONSOLIDATION IN FOURTH REPUBLIC
Introduction
There are challenges that has bedeviled the democratic consolidation in Nigeria’s Fourth republic steaming from her weak institutions and corrupt practices from legislature, political parties and electoral management body in Nigeria which have been unable to protect and promote consolidation of democracy.
Legislature
The legislature of the fourth republic has been described as weak and a premature institution, largely inexperienced at its inauguration in 1999 compared to the executive (Ojo, 2009; Ebegbulem, 2011) because legislative functions have been scrapped since the military comeback of December 1983. Sadly too, it only lasted for 2 years (1991-1993) before it was again suspended by the Abacha military junta after overthrowing the Shonekan Interim National Government. Again the nation waited for 6 years to witness another legislative business. But in contrast, the executive always retains its status whenever the military strikes and on many occasions combined the legislative duties. The point to make here is that legislative and executive responsibilities are usually fused and discharged by the executive branch of government whenever the military takes over power. This act has undoubtedly institutionalized a system and culture of government that is extremely executive-centered. The unequal development of the two branches of government has given birth to an overdeveloped executive in terms of powers and responsibilities (Ebegbulem, 2011).
CHAPTER FOUR
IMPLICATIONS OF ELECTORAL MALPRACTICES ON DEMOCRATIC CONSOLIDATION IN NIGERIA’S FOURTH REPUBLIC
INTRODUCTION
Electoral malpractices are undoubtedly an impediment to the democratization process. This is especially true in countries that have scaled the hurdle of transitioning from authoritarian to democratic regimes and are navigating the political contour of transitioning to a consolidated democracy. Having gone through the bitter experience of electoral corruption since 1999, there are a number of ways Nigeria has been affected or will be affected by the problems created by the conduct of elections devoid of transparency.
Voting Apathy
Electoral malpractices tend to accelerate the level of voter apathy in a population. People refrain from voting in subsequent elections if previous or current polls are ‘won’ through vile means like rigging, false declaration of losers as winners, and bribing of electoral officials. In the 2011 general elections in Nigeria, the 26 April 2011 Gubernatorial / State Houses of Assembly polls had a very low voter turnout because of the real or perceived duplicity that had taken place in the 9 and 16 April National Assembly and Presidential elections respectively. The general feeling among Nigerian voters was that their votes were not going to count. Whether they voted or failed to vote, ‘winners’ must emerge through ‘politricks Nigeria style’ (Lustig 2007, p. 8). This trend is dangerous for the maturity of Nigeria’s democracy.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
SUMMARY
The focus of this study is to examine electoral malpractices on democratic consolidation in the fourth republic. It emphasizes the vital importance of election to democratic consolidation. It shows the need for resuscitating the decaying democratic institutions, attitudes, resources and infrastructure at all levels of society as it affects electoral process for effective quest for democratic governance.The researchers adopted historical and descriptive methods. Information was sourced from secondary data collated from journals, articles, library materials and internet sources which are related to the study.
CONCLUSION
Following the survey of democratic consolidation literature it is clear that it is characterized with longevity of a civilian regime as well as recognition and respect of democratic institutions, thus fairness, freest and credible elections must not therefore be an exception to these characteristics. Although there is significant breakthrough regarding the fourth republic experiment in Nigeria such as being the first time civilian government stayed for 16 years without military intervention. Five general elections were conducted within the time frame as well as alternation of power by incumbent to the opposition in 2015. Yet there is so much to be desired in the conduct of democratic practices of the fourth republic in general and the conduct of the electoral process in particular. Perhaps, the predicaments of practice of democracy in the fourth republic have threatened its consolidation, hence it is characterized with bane of democratic governance. The implications of these therefore manifest in issues such as disrespect and outright violations of electoral act with impunity due to weak democratic institutions, electoral violence, ethno-religious politics, rampant corruption and mismanagement, poverty and lack of internal democracy which is visible in incumbency factor, godfatherism and excessive monetization in politics.The moral foundation of the state in its capability to meet its obligation to the citizens, and citizen’s ability to obey the laws of the state has been questioned. As instructively observed, these issues which have triggered electoral crises are mostly technical and logistical problems (Osabiya, 2014), however for many politicians, winning election is more important than deaths that occurs due to application of violence as part of their overall campaign strategy. For Nigerian politicians it’s either to gain an unfair advantage over their opponents, or to disrupt the process outright when it is clear that they are not of the winning side of the divide. This makes our democracy to remain nascent and unconsolidated thereby leading to minimal benefit emanating from it.
RECOMMENDATION
From the findings of the study, the researcher recommends that:
- In order to reduce this menace, there is need for legal restriction on these politicians who perpetrate this ugly art. imposing fine on the person or persons in some cases where they have illegally occupied such positions; suspend unscrupulous politicians from politics hence they thwarted the efforts of patriotic Nigerians in consolidating democracy via election rigging.
- There is need to reduce the materialized nature of Nigerian politics if the country want to attain consolidated democracy.
- The practice of godfatherism should be abolished. that the practice of godfatherism smacks of political criminality and subverts the values of democracy and good governance. This relationship between the godfather and godson encourages the office holder (godson) to give no regards to the values of good governance which would have promoted transparency and accountability.
- There is need to combat power of incumbency, violence, corruption and impunity so as to enhance the electoral process.
- Political leaders should strictly adhered to the application of rule of law, constitutionalism and democratic values, the legitimacy of government and consolidation of democracy in their quest for power.
- The electoral commission should be granted autonomy and devoid of manipulations from political stakeholders
- The judiciary in their decisions of elections cases and petition should endeavour to insulate themselves and resist all attempts to drag their personnel into the murky waters of partisan politics, but still maintain their independence, honesty and integrity in their judgement.
REFERENCES
- Adeosun, A.B. (2014), Democracy and democratic consolidation in Nigerian fourth republic: Issues and challenges. IOSR-JHSS, 19(10), 5-10.
- Aliu, M. (2013), Legislative corruption and democratic consolidation in the Nigerian Fourth Republic. Journal of Sustainable, 15(6), 101-112.
- Arolowo, D.E., Aluko, O.A. (2012), Democracy, political participation and good governance in Nigeria. International Journal of Development and Sustainability, 1(3), 1-13.
- Ateno, O.P. (2009), An analysis of the strengths and limitation of qualitative and quantitative research paradigms. Problems of Education in the 21st Century. Vol. 13. p13-38.
- Birch, S. (2009), Electoral Corruption, Institute for Democracy and Conflict Resolution (IDCR) Briefing Paper.
- Creswell, J. (2007), Qualitative Research Designs: Selection and Implementation. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE.
