Electoral Malpractice and Democratic Consolidation in Nigeria: An Analytical Approach

Abstract

This research examines the intrigues that surround the process through which Nigerians elect their leaders periodically and its impacts on the nation's democratic growth and survival. Election is meant to be a process through which the electorate periodically evaluates and appraises the performance of their elected leaders. In this way, they can remove unpopular elected leaders who are found corrupt and nonperforming. On the other hand, they can also reaffirm their support for popular and performing government and elected individuals. But in the history of Nigeria, the reverse has always been the case. Findings have revealed that the electoral will of the masses had often been thwarted by the fraudulent actions of the political class, security agencies, and the electoral umpire, presently known as the "Independent National Electoral Commission" (INEC). Findings have also revealed that elections in Nigeria have always been marred by violence, electoral fraud, vote-buying, manipulations of election results, falsification of election results, and imposition of candidates on the masses. It has also been revealed that the 2023 general election stands out as the worst and most rigged election since the return of democratic rule to Nigeria in 1999. This study adopts Analytical Historical research approach that explores both primary and secondary source materials. This study therefore suggests that there should be a total overhaul of the electoral process. The electoral body (INEC) and the judiciary should be made independent in the real sense of it and given free hand to operate without incumbency influences, and also that electoral offenders should be punished adequately for electoral offences.