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Election Malpractice And Democratization In Nigeria’s Fourth Republic
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1.8 Limitation of the Study
Financial limitation: The research was limited by lean financial resources which affected the quantity of affordable data.
Time
limitation: The researcher carried out the research along with other
academic engagements which chopped part of the time that otherwise would
have been invested in the research.
1.9 Conceptual Clarifications
Democracy:
Democracy as used in this research refers to the theory and practice in
which the supreme power of government stems from the collective will of
the majority of the populace which is expressed through periodic
elections. According to Abraham Lincoln, democracy is the government of
the people, by the people and for the people.
Democratization:
Democratization refers to political change moving in democratic
direction. It can be conceptualized categorically as the process in
which formerly authoritarian regimes crumble and give way to
transitional election to be held periodically, to the last phase, where
democratic practices are expected to become firmly established and
accepted by most relevant actors.
Election: Election is a democratic
mechanism which embodies the process through which electorates vote
candidates of their choice into public offices. The voted candidates are
called representatives and they advocate the political cum
socio-economic interests of their voters in the government of the State.
Election
Malpractice: Election malpractice refers to all illegitimate acts
carried out before, during and after elections in order to influence the
outcomes of an election to the advantage of a particular political
party and to the detriment of the other(s). Such illegitimate acts
include rigging, thuggery, violence, intimidation, fraud, bribery, vote
buying, misrepresentation and all sort of illegal manipulations hinged
on altering the otherwise anticipated outcome of an election.
Nigeria:
Nigeria is an African country located in Western part of the continent.
It has the highest human population in the continent made up of may
ethno-religious and cultural groups, predominantly the Hausa/Fulani who
occupy the north, the Yoruba in the west, and the Igbos in the eastern
part of the country. Both Islam and Christianity are practiced by
northern and southern populations respectively. Analytically, Nigeria is
a sovereign state with major historical roots in colonialism. Her
supposed democracy is still infant considering the short period of
independent rule from 1960, as well as 15 years’ interval of military
rule after which democracy returned to practice in the fourth republic
beginning 1999.
Fourth republic: Fourth republic of Nigeria refers to the political period between 1999 till date.
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ABSRACT - [ Total Page(s): 1 ]The conduct of free and fair elections has become the yardstick for measuring the strength and credibility of a country’s democracy. The absence of free and fair elections has become an almost insurmountable obstacle to democratization in most African countries, especially in Nigeria. The history of the conduct of elections in the country is predominated with the prevalence of electoral misconducts and malpractices which has weakened the nerves of democratization and the country’s ... Continue reading---
