Electoral violence ranges from acts of assault, arson, ballot box snatching and stuffing to murderassassination. In the primary, separate party ballots are printed, and the voter must choose between the ballot with democrats running against other democrats or the one on which republicans run against other republicans. Election and electoral processes in nigerias fourth republic mirrored the historical. First, the natural theory defines the state in philosophical terms, seen as an organic entity, an independent community, organized as government and. Election riggings in nigeria have dealt a huge blow to the development of democracy in nigeria. Types of election systems in nigeria and other countries. Election management bodies and their composition 2 1 overview of election management bodies majority of countries in western adopted this system, including germany, what is an election management body. For a more detailed discussion of these principles, see promoting legal frameworks for democratic elections.
In essence, both the process and the outcome of the election should reflect the consent and aspirations of the people as organized electorate olu, 2003. Each party then decides on members to fill the seats it has won. The anatomy of the causes of electoral violence in nigeria. There are two basic types of elections primary and general. Nigeria started experimenting with representative democracy in 1922. In oddnumbered years, like 2021, these november elections are also called municipal elections. Congress, some states and local jurisdictions also hold. In view of this, the thrust of this paper is a reflection on the tides of electoral violence and the attendant precipitating factors that make free and fair election pretty difficult in nigeria. The administration of elections in nigeria suffers from a. It is bordered by niger and chad to the north, cameroon to the east, and benin to the west.
In the world, there are many types of election systems. The nigerian electoral process in perspective elections under colonial rule before independence in 1960, nigeria, which existed as an amalgamation of the northern and southern protectorates since 1914, had already witnessed three different elections. Electoral violence in nigeria has two broad dimensions, physical and psychological. However, for elections to be termed democratic, it must be free and fair. The history of nigeria can be traced to prehistoric settlers nigerians living in the area as early as 1100 bc. Types of election in nigeria and electoral system information. The nigerian election is a means of choosing and electing choice representatives to the nigerian federal government and the various states in nigeria.
A presidential election was held in nigeria on 16 april 2011, postponed from 9 april 2011. Islam reached nigeria through the borno empire between 1068 ad and hausa states around 85 ad during the 11th century, while. History of democracy in nigeria and when did nigeria became a. Mar 09, 2020 causes, types, effects, and solutions to corruption in nigeria. The essence of this article is to provide insight into the types of the election in nigeria and the electoral system operated. General elections were held in nigeria on 23 february 2019 to elect the president, vice president, house of representatives and the senate. A primary election is a nominating election in which the field of candidates that will run in the general election is chosen. This is the important election that takes place once in 5 years to elect 543 members for the parliament lower house. This is called a proportional representation pr voting system.
Dec 15, 2018 after independence, nigeria has practiced different forms of government until it eventually became a democratic nation. Nigerians vote in a presidential election on march 28. In view of this, the thrust of this paper is a reflection on the tides of electoral violence and the attendant precipitating factors. After independence, nigeria has practiced different forms of government until it eventually became a democratic nation. Herskovits 1979, nigeria rejected britains parliamentary form of democracy which they had continued after independence in 1960 and chose the first wholly nigerianmade constitution, to follow the american model instead. Nigeria s elections so far have not live up to expectations due to various forms of electoral. Pennsylvania governor, lieutenant governor, general assembly, attorney general, auditor general, state treasurer. Top 10 largest local government in nigeria by population and landmass. However, the implication of nigeria s electoral history for the enthronement of a democratic order is yet to be exhaustively explored. A parliamentary election was held in nigeria on 9 april 2011.
Election rigging and the problems of electoral act in nigeria. Nigerians elects on the federal level a head of state the president of nigeria and a legislature the national assembly. However, the movement of thoughts on the concept of state is from the natural, divine, social contract and force theories. Electoral commission inec of nigeria, political parties, the media and. Ideally, election is a means of determining the will of the people regarding their choice of political leaders and regime types.
Types of electoral systems electoral systems and processes. Second, sad memories of the 2011 postelection violence and its accompanying heavy casualties created fear among many nigerians. A party needs 272 mps to stake claim to form the central government. In addition to the primaries and general elections held in evennumbered years, which include political races for the u. Ownership has an enormous bearing on the nature of a media outlets elections coverage or, for that matter, any political coverage. The 2011 postelection violence, acknowledged as the bloodiest electioninduced violence. However, the election was infamously annulled by the military dictator, general ibrahim babangida. Other types of government agencies or institutions involved in the electoral process include the national assembly and state houses of assembly, the national. The historic june 12, 1993 election believed to have been won by late business mogul, mko abiola was considered by many observers as the freest and fairest election in nigerias political history. Pdf the electoral process and democratic consolidation in nigeria. Nigeria adopted a new legal framework for the 2011 elections following amendments to the electoral act and constitution in late 2010 and early 2011. The elections had initially been scheduled for 16 february, but the electoral commission postponed the vote by a week at 03. Elections in nigeria are forms of choosing representatives to the nigerian federal government and the various states in the fourth republic nigeria.
Nigerias 2015 election in perspective article pdf available in afrika spectrum. Democracy and electoral process in nigeria politics essay. There are three basic types primary, general and local. An election management body is the body legally responsible for managing elections and other instruments of direct democracy. Election rigging and the problems of electoral act in nigeria ayo awopeju department of political science, joseph ayo babalola university, ikejiarakeji, osun state, nigeria abstract the paper grappled with the election rigging and the flaws inherent in nigerian electoral act. Types of electoral systems a countrys electoral system is the method used to calculate the number of elected positions in government that individuals and parties are awarded after elections.
Sep 07, 2018 the nigerian election is a means of choosing and electing choice representatives to the nigerian federal government and the various states in nigeria. Lets take a closer look at the one thats accepted in nigeria and then compare it with other electoral systems from other countries. A general election is an election held to choose among candidates nominated in a primary or by. Deutsche zeitschrift fur gegenwartsbezogene afrikaforschung 493. Top priorities for the continent in 2015 with rising income, lower unemployment and better educated citizens, and a much poorer, less educated and struggling north atuanya 20.
An ndi guide for developing laws and law commentaries, section two 2008, also published as chapter one in international election principles. Itbased solutions to the electoral system in nigeria. This will also go a long way in solving the problem of intimidating any resident electoral commissioner from doing a thorough job thereby conducting a free and fair election. However, the implication of nigerias electoral history for the enthronement of a democratic order is yet to be exhaustively explored. According to preliminary results of the 2006 census and subsequent estimates, the most populous cities in nigeria are lagos about 8 million, kano 3. During the electoral processes, nigerians a representative to the office. General elections are always held the first tuesday, after the first monday, in november.
The incidence of electoral violence in nigeria is quite intimidating. In a presidential primary election, voters registered with a political party select the candidate who will represent that party on. Overages, the country has been held hostage in shackles and coffin of corruption in nigeria and its adverse effect on the countrymen and women, it is no longer that new corruption has become a household menace that erupts from public office holders to the floor of. The election follows controversy as to whether a muslim or christian should be allowed to become president given the tradition of rotating the top. The 2011 post election violence, acknowledged as the bloodiest election induced violence. Victory in a primary usually results in a candidate being nominated or endorsed by a political party for the general election.
Nigerias elections so far have not live up to expectations due to various forms of electoral manipulations which have denied the country credible free and fair. To win the vote, a presidential candidate must obtain an absolute majority or at least 25 percent of the ballots in twothirds of the. Primary elections held by the political parties to select each partys nominee for the general election. In addition, special elections can be called which are limited to one specific purpose, e. In september, the first election took place in lagos and calabar. These forms of violence take place before elections, during elections and after or postelection, and could also be intra or interparty. Nigerias presidential election, postponed until 28 march, promises to be a closely fought rematch between incumbent goodluck jonathan and former military ruler muhammadu buhari. Types of election rigging methods and how to stop them. Sep 08, 2018 furthermore, human rights watch reported that deadly election related and communal violence in northern nigeria following the april 2011 presidential voting left more than 800 people dead.
Wsj looks at the key players, the threat of boko haram and what the result could mean for. Electoral commissions and the conduct of elections in nigeria. Corruption in nigeria causes, types, effects, and solutions. Nigerias election below the minimum democracy standard. Second, sad memories of the 2011 post election violence and its accompanying heavy casualties created fear among many nigerians.
With the advent of more political parties it was expected that this pattern would change. Nigerias 2015 presidential election council on foreign. The election was originally scheduled to be held on 2 april, but was later postponed to 4 april. Abuja has been the capital of nigeria since december 12, 1991. Nigeria, onethird larger than texas in area and the most populous country in africa, is located on the gulf of guinea in west africa. At this stage, election was restricted to the municipalities lagos and calabar with grossly unacceptable elitist prerequite for franchise which among other things required the electorates to be resident in lagos and calabar, have.
Types of election rigging methods and how to stop them by egiftm. All local elections are surrounded by rumors about unfairness and malpractices. The extent of representation was so little, only four nigerians were elected and they covered only lagos and calabar. Pdf the electoral process and democratic consolidation. Objectives of the study the general aim of this paper is to examine the nature of the 2015 presidential election and the major factors that made the outcome of the election different from the previous presidential elections in the country. However, it distinguishes between two types of elective positions legislative and executive. Department of computer and information sciences college of science and technology covenant university ota, ogun state, nigeria email. Problems of elections in nigeria, university of ibadan press, ibadan. The lower course of the niger river flows south through the western part of the country into the gulf of guinea. The nigerian election explained the wall street journal. Types of election systems in nigeria and other countries legit. Overages, the country has been held hostage in shackles and coffin of corruption in nigeria and its adverse effect on the countrymen and women, it is no longer that new corruption has become a household menace that erupts from public office holders to the floor of common man in the room, how it happens, the forms it. State and government owned media are under direct state or ruling party control and may therefore tend toward favouring incumbent parties or candidates. Numerous ancient african civilizations settled in the region that is today nigeria, such as the kingdom of nri, the benin empire, and the oyo empire.