The litmus test for democracy in nigeria will be the extent to which the electoral process through the electoral law instituted, is able to engender fair, participatory, and inclusive electoral participation by the people. If the electoral law is weak, deficient, or poorly enforced, the electoral process will. Rickey tarfa, san,1 introduction prior to the colonial era, the different political units which subsequently made up nigeria had various unique and different ways of appointing their leaders. It identifies the police as the lead internal security agency. The functions of inec as contained in section 15, part 1 of the third schedule of the 1999 constitution as amended. Additionally, countries with a history of electoral violence often experience a recurrence of such violence, as has been witnessed in kenya, nigeria, and zimbabwe. If the electoral law is weak, deficient, or poorly enforced, the electoral process will be easily subverted. The litmus test for democracy in nigeria will be the extent to which the electoral process through the electoral law instituted is able to engender fair, participatory, and inclusive electoral participation by the people. An appraisal of precipitating factors in nigeria olayiwola victor ojo m sc political science, university of ilorin, ilorin, nigeria abstract nigeria s electoral politics from independence has been tumultuous. Enacted by the national assembly of the federal republic of nigeriapart iestablishment and functions, etc. Among the changes are steps taken to guarantee the independence of the independent national elections commission inec and to reorganize election tribunals and their powers.
Get free research paper on democracy and electoral process in nigeria our project topics and materials are suitable for students in nigeria with case studies in pdf, doc. Enacted by the national assembly of the federal republic of nigeria. Pdf the electoral process and democratic consolidation in nigeria. All actions in nigeria which are instituted for the purposes of challenging the validity of an election or disputing the due return of a candidate must be commenced by a petition.
The origin of the inec goes back to the period before independence when the electoral commission of nigeria was established to conduct 1959 elections. Electoral act 2010 this is the electoral act that repealed the previous 2006 act. Candidates vying for the legislative council position are required to have a minimum annual income of 100 pounds. Electoral laws and democratic consolidation in nigeria. The electoral process and democratic consolidation in nigeria. Electoral act 2010 updated inec regulations and guidelines for the conduct of elections 2019 extracts of 1999 constitution of nigeria.
The electoral act in 2010 doubled the campaign spending limits in the 2006 act. Independent national electoral commission wikipedia. General trends, challenges and opportunities photo credit. Within this volume is the complete reproduction of the legal. The rule of law and democracy has become the major features of any civilized society, without which such. Established by the constitution, inec is a juridical person that may sue or be sued in its own name. The independent national electoral commission as established by s. Inec should sign onto the political parties and of course all contestants, code of conduct which must be observed throughout the preparation and conduct of every election in the country. Lagos state independent electoral amendment law 2018 laws. There are two options open to the nigerian electorates. Enacted by the national assembly of the federal republic of nigeria as follows. Then came the 1993 elections in history of elections in nigeria, the l99 elections is seen as the most free and fair elections ever conducted in nigeria general ibrahim babangida, who overthrew the general buharis government, organized an inconclusive transition that was perceived in some quarters to deny a yoruba, chief m. Printed and published by the federal government printer, abuja, nigeria.
Section 93 1 of the electoral act 2010 provides that no political party shall accept or. The consistent adherence to the electoral laws helps in the consolidation of democracy. In september, the first election took place in lagos and calabar. This trend has been a common phenomenon in nigeria, to the extent that election periods are often wrought with fear, anxiety and desperation between the political class as they seek electoral mandate. Effectively, the 1922 clifford constitution paved the way for the very first electoral system in nigeria. Electoral act, 2010 an act to repeal the electoral act no. 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. The paper concludes that for nigeria to experience sustainable socioeconomic. The independent national electoral commission inec, set up in 1998, is the electoral body which oversees elections in nigeria.
Signing amended electoral act for 2019 elections will. Nigerias constitution of 1999 with amendments through 2011. The law library of congress 4 monitoring political campaigns and providing rules and regulations to govern the political parties. Sixth report on violence 2016 2 foreword this sixth annual report on lethal violence in nigeria covers the period between 1 january and 31 december 2016. Pdf electoral laws and democratic consolidation in. Included in the volume is the guidelines and regulations issued on 12 january 2019 by the independent national electoral commission inec to guide the 2019 general elections in nigeria. The proposed adoption of evoting in nigeria by the electoral body. Volume 6 no 2 33 33 electoral laws and the 2007 general elections in nigeria e remi aiyede e remi aiyede is a lecturer in and director of postgraduate affairs, department of political science university of ibadan, nigeria. What the constitution, electoral act say vanguard news. Acquisition of arms has become synonymous with possessing voters card. Local government administration amendment law 2016 2016 laws. The new electoral law provides for direct funding of the electoral. The independent national electoral commission inec was established by the 1999 constitution of the federal republic of nigeria to among other things organize elections into various political offices in the country. If any other law is inconsistent with the provisions of this constitution, this constitution shall prevail, and that other law shall, to the extent of the inconsistency, be void.
Legal incapacity any serious observer of the electoral process in nigeria will readily attest to the radical departure of the transitional enactments from what used to. By henry umoru abuja president muhammadu buhari, friday for the fourth time, rejected assent to the electoral bill which was passed to him to sign into law. The 1999 constitution of the federal republic of nigeria vests the power and authority to organise and conduct elections in the independent national electoral. This is not unconnected with the inability of the politicians and electoral officers to play the game according to the rules. In preparation for the 2011 elections, nigeria has made various changes to laws governing elections, mainly the electoral act and the constitution. National register of voters and voters registration. The prohibitive cost of seeking public office in nigeria is a major reason why corruption continues to thrive. 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. Election rigging and the problems of electoral act in nigeria. E remi aiyede is a lecturer in and director of postgraduate affairs. The unofficial word out there is that the president would abandon the.
A nigerian newspaper and online version of the vanguard, a daily publication in nigeria covering nigeria news, niger delta, general national news. A constitution based on a parliamentary model was introduced in 1960 when nigeria formally became an independent state. Pdf law is generally considered to be an engine of sociolegal. Electoral act, nascent democracy, nigeria, election.
It has been written at the university of ibadan thanks to the continuous support of the nigeria stability and reconciliation. The reasons may not be unconnected with the previous unsuccessful attempts by government to implement such. Old vs new whats in the electoral act amendment bill that buhari has thrice refused to sign. Pdf appraisal of electoral act, 2017 and abolition of inherited. What are the most common electoral malpractices in nigeria here are the causes and ways to prevent the fraudulent actions and change the democratic processes for better. Election petition is a special proceeding guided by a particular electoral law under which the. The revised law of political parties registration and electoral ethics has been adopted unanimously by ethiopias parliament, the staterun ethiopian broadcasting corporation reported. Democracy and electoral process in nigeria politics essay. The importance, how to, effect causes relationship, comparison, history, role, solutions are discussed. 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. This is a particularly important moment in africas history. Nigeria is one indivisible and indissoluble sovereign state to be known by the name of the federal republic of nigeria. Pdf the electoral process and democratic consolidation. Constitution of the federal republic of nigeria pdf download.
Political leadership and corruption in nigeria since 1960. The independent national electoral commission inec was established by the 1999 constitution of the federal republic of nigeria to among other things organize elections into various political offices in. Ethiopia parliament approves new electoral bill ahead of. Matters arising contents foreword as long as there is complete adherence to the electoral laws and transparent processes, elections by universal suffrage is the major expression of democracy. The countrys prevailing electoral law is the 2010 electoral act as amended which has. Lagos state 2015 laws the laws of lagos state 2015. Read on to find out how to end election malpractice. It was amended in 1963 when nigeria attained the republican status. Electoral amendment act, 2010 explanatory memorandum this act amends the electoral act, 2010 among other things, to provide for adequate time for the independent national electoral commission to issue notices, receive nomination of candidates from political parties and ensure the proper conduct of political parties. Having firmly and solemnly resolve, to live in unity and harmony as one indivisible and indissoluble sovereign nation under god, dedicated to the promotion of interafrican solidarity, world peace, international cooperation and understanding. Journal of public administration, finance and law issue 142018 88. Old vs new whats in the electoral act amendment bill. The countrys prevailing electoral law is the 2010 electoral act as amended which has been grossly violated in its preceding and present status by the various political actors during the 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011 and 2015 general elections.
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