Is Nigeria an Ideal Democracy? An Assessment on the 2023 General Elections

Abstract

There is no doubt that since the end of military rule in 1999, Nigeria has made significant strides toward democratization. Several international observers, such as the European Union (EU), Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), African Union (AU), United Nations (UN), National Democratic Institute (NDI), and International Republican Institute (IRI) just to mention a few, have declared some nations' past elections to be free and fair, with a thriving civil society that actively participates in influencing public dialogue. Also, Nigeria operates under a multi-party system that promotes a diversity of political viewpoints, and its written constitution outlines the rights and freedoms of its citizens. However, Nigeria still faces numerous challenges that prevent it from being considered an ideal democracy, such as voter intimidation and electoral violence. Moreover, instances of election rigging have raised questions about the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral system. The study adopts a descriptive research method. The paper presents an analysis and description of Nigeria's democratic progress, challenges, and recommendations for improvement. To strengthen its democracy and create a safer and fairer future, the country should address issues like political corruption, inequality, and social unrest during and after elections. This can be achieved by adopting electronic methods in the electoral process, reducing human involvement. This implies that election results should be directly uploaded from the polling units, bypassing the complex steps of going through wards, local governments, and state centres before being uploaded. More so, the paper recommends that in high- and medium-risk states like Lagos, Kano, and Rivers States, INEC should endeavour to enhance oversight and surveillance of its officials with a reinforced security apparatus. This, among other measures, will create a system that enables citizens to voice their grievances and concerns regarding INEC officials.