The Effect of Inconclusive Election on the Credibility of Electoral Process in Nigeria. (a Case Study of Rivers State)
CHAPTER ONE
OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The main objective of this study is to evaluate the causes and effect of inconclusive election in river state. However, the researcher seeks to achieve the following objective:
- To ascertain the causes of inconclusive election in Rivers state.
- To evaluate the effect of inconclusive election in the democratic
- To ascertain the role of INEC towards eliminating inconclusive elections in Nigeria.
- To determine challenges facing INEC towards conducting credible elections in Nigeria.
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
Introduction
Election, which could be described as a widely and universally accepted means through which, by voting, individuals are openly and methodically chosen to represent a body or community in a larger entity or government, is one of the cardinal features of a democratic process. Truly, if the elementary definition of democracy is accepted as the government of the people, by the people and for the people, then elections would seem to be the only mechanism through which a democratic government can be realized and entrenched. Previous and current efforts by Nigeria to institute liberal democracy as a system of government have always been either scuttled or severely constrained by the problems arising from elections. The issue has not been whether or when to hold elections, since that fact and necessity of elections are taken for granted in the practice of liberal democracy. Rather, the issue has been how to ensure and guarantee credibility and acceptability of elections and their outcomes (Kayode, 2005); cited in Onu and Momoh (2005). With election so critical in a democratic political system, it is understable why one should be concerned with its fairness and freeness. As argued by the Nigerian social scientist (2003:1), without elections being held regularly and seen to be conducted in a transparently free and fair manner, democracy remains a sham, a forlorn hope, indeed and empty shadow of itself. It is precisely because of this fact, that virtually every analyst who comments on democratic elections, particularly in Nigeria, always stresses the issue of freeness and fairness; hence, credibility (see, among others Ujo, 2003 (a & b); Olaleye, 2003; Bello, 2003, Sha, 2003; Nzongola-Ntaloja, 2001 Odeg, 2003 and, Diamond, 2002). It is common knowledge that elections, particularly in Nigeria, are often characterized by all manners of malpractices with their attendant, socio-political, economic and security challenges facing Nigeria as a nation.
Elections are very central to the principle and practice of democracy anywhere in the world and the management of elections by the electoral umpire in any country occupies a strategic and significant place in the electoral process and by implication, the consolidation of electoral democracy, (Odoziobodo, 2015). An election management body is always created for the management of a nation’s elections into political offices and the goal of such a body is to ensure the realization of the will of the people in terms of making their votes count; in ensuring that the outcome of election results reflects the wishes and aspirations of the electorate. In the case of Nigeria, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is the nation’s electoral umpire created in 1998. Since coming into existence, it has conducted series of elections including the 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011 and the 2015 general elections, in addition to many supplementary and bye-elections to complete inconclusive elections; fill vacancies caused by the death of the position occupant and election results nullified by election tribunals or the court. Arguably, the periods 1999 to 2007 were characterized by unwholesome electoral practices that created doubts about the resolve of Nigerian leadership to entrench the culture of democratic elections in Nigeria.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Research design
The researcher used descriptive research survey design in building up this project work the choice of this research design was considered appropriate because of its advantages of identifying attributes of a large population from a group of individuals. The design was suitable for the study as the study sought to examine the effect of inconclusive election on the credibility of electoral process in Nigeria.
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 byproducts 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 on the study the effect of inconclusive election on the credibility of electoral process in Nigeria. 200 staff of independent national electoral commission (INEC) 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 inconclusive election on the 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 challenges of inconclusive election in Nigeria with emphasis on Rivers state.
Summary
We need to collectively renew our commitment to democracy and seek to place our country on an irreversible path of democratic governance. The INEC need to be strengthened to be truly independent to discharge its duties impartially. Democracy as Amartya (1999), argued guarantees freedom and development and is indeed, the sure antidote to war and hunger. The plausibility of democracy and its correlation with qualitative human development is evidenced in the World Bank (1989) study which discovered that out of 24 richest countries in the world, only 3 of them were not democratic and out of 42 of the poorest world countries, only 2 of them had never experienced democracy. Hence, the visible correlation between democracy, wealth creation and security has made democracy attractive to the world (Kukah, 2015). For instance, in 1973, only 32 per cent of the world’s population lived in free, democratic societies. Between 1990 and 1994, the member soared between 38 and 58 per cent; today, the statistics hover between 60 and 70 per cent consequent of China population. The essence of democracy is competition, inclusiveness and civil liberties. Democracy will die if it fails to serve as a platform for creating opportunities, managing diversities and encouraging the attainment of the common good. Over the years, Nigeria has been apparently defined in terms of Christianity, Islam, Northerners, minorities et.c, but General Buhari’s victory at the 2015 general elections has shown clearly that coalition and consensus building is imperative to election success and that no group can achieve it all alone.
Conclusion
The theory of needs, the nature of state and the behavior of the political elite guided our appraisal of the voter and elite behavior and their implications in the much desired credible elections in Nigeria. We observed the volatile nature of electoral contests as a result of the attractive nature of the state, godfatherism, money politics and the manipulation politics of the governing elite which is the brain child of inability to conclude an electoral exercise, hence the term “inconclusive election.” These problems pose the challenge of reconstructing politics and re-legitimizing the political process. The envisaged tasks will involve the political class, electoral organ, security agencies and civil society with a view to evolving credible electoral process/elections, expanding the political space and consolidating democratic institutions and processes. However, the Rivers gubernatorial election, 2015 is considerably a boost to grassroot democratic participation in Nigeria but marred with violence.
Recommendations
There is need for Nigerians irrespective of colour and race even gender to call to mind on the vision, values and aspirations of Nigerian’s founding fathers, particularly on the areas of credible election, good governance, formulation and implementation of people oriented policies and programmes through good leadership. There is need to jettison godfatherism in Nigerian election if the nation must live up to its national development. This will help to develop self-confidence in the voters and citizens and they will be able to successfully cope with and fight associated election fraud. It may be argued that money politics and vote-buying cannot be completely eradicated in Nigeria election. To a reasonable extent people can adopt mechanisms by which its negative consequences on good governance can be minimized. Strict adherence to spending limit during election campaign should be observed. The Nigerian economy must be repositioned to empower the people economically. This is because where poverty is minimal the electorates can then make independent electoral decisions in voting for credible politicians’ rather least qualified candidate that specialized on money spending. The 1999 constitution should be amended to strengthening INEC’s legal framework and the INEC as an electoral body ought to be truly independent of undue influences and manipulations by the government in power. Similarly, in strengthening its legal framework, the INEC Chairman, Commissioners, Resident Electoral Commissioners and Secretary should be nominated through an independent process of voting instead of by presidential appointments. In this way, merit and credibility will be given to the positions.
References
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