Electoral Fraud and Democratic Governance in Nigeria Fourth Republic
Chapter One
Objectives of the Study
The broad objective of the study focused on the interrogation of how Electoral Frauds affects democratic consolidation in Nigeria using the administration of President Buhari, as a case study. In line with the identified problem of the study, three specific objectives were raised to guide the research. They are to:
- Identify the indicators of Electoral Frauds in the Nigerian electoral system
- Determine the effect of Electoral Frauds on Democratic Governance in Nigeria
- Ascertain the ways by which the incidences of Electoral Frauds in Nigeria can be stymied or prevented.
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
Election Malpractices
Two basic approaches have been designed by scholars seeking to define and categorize practices that undermine electoral process, these are inclusive and restrictive (Vickery and Shein, 2012). They espoused inclusive (fraud, malpractice and manipulation) to be as broad as possible, no matter the imprecision. Some writers in this category situate their definitions normatively, finding that electoral wrongdoing violates domestic norms or internationally accepted standards for free and fair elections. Restrictive approach focus only or mostly on the provisions of the law (i.e. fraud can be identified by whether it violates existing domestic legal provisions). This enables a context-specific approach to combating various kinds of electoral wrongdoing, and it makes obvious sense for the election management body to use a country’s domestic laws as benchmarks in its fraud or malpractice control activities.
There are three types of Electoral Frauds, pre-election, election period and post-election period (Birch, 2009; Norris, 2012; Olawole et al., 2013; Ugwuja, 2015). The manipulation of rules, the manipulation of voters and the manipulation of voting. By manipulation of rules, electoral laws are distorted so as to favor one party or contestant in an election. For example, when the rules administering candidacy prevent certain political forces from contesting elections, or when large sectors of the adult population are excluded from voting. The manipulation of voters is either to distort voters’ preferences or to sway preference expression. The first one involves illicit forms of campaign tactics that are deceptive and that violate campaign finance laws or severe bias in media coverage of the election. The second form consist of alteration of how preferences are expressed at the polling station, through vote-buying or intimidation in the aim of increasing the vote of a specific political force. Voting manipulation consist of electoral maladministration, such as ballot-box stuffing, misreporting, under-provision of voting facilities in opposition strong-holds, lack of transparency in the organization of the election, bias in the way electoral disputes are adjudicated in the courts, and so on (Birch, 2009).
The right to vote is a civic responsibility or public function conferred upon the citizen for reason of social expediency (Olawole et al., 2013). There is strong relationship in Africa’s Electoral Frauds with the type and forms of historical system practiced by each society, coupled with the class structure, social stratification, aestheticism and religious differences. Thus conclude that until elections become completely competitive and the electorates are free to make a choice between alternatives and that a liberal political system is put in place, there will always be Electoral Fraud (Birch, 2009). In Africa, the scenario is a curse to the electorate and a gimmick played by politicians who seek to legitimize the illegitimate practice of coercing citizens into voting for them on the backdrop of rampant electoral rigging (Mapuva, 2013).
Furthermore, Electoral Frauds also referred commonly as election rigging or election fraud and crime, election manipulation, voters fraud or vote rigging, involves illegal interference with the process of election either by increasing the vote share of a favored candidate, depressing the vote share of rival candidates, or both (Akindele, 2002).
Researches on election rigging are scarce and often times focuses broadly with a mixture of political and electoral frauds. Most of the works reviewed includes articles, commentaries, reports and interviews from newspapers and magazines on the 2011 presidential post-election violence. Some scholars have made attempt to conceptualize electoral violence. Fischer defined electoral frauds as any random or organized act that seeks to determine, delay, or otherwise influence an electoral process through threat, verbal intimidation, hate speech, disinformation, manipulation, forced “protection”, blackmail, destruction of property, or assassination (Fischer, 2002).
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHOD
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Research Design
This study is qualitative in orientations and adopted Documentary research design. In this regards, various documented evidence; particularly media publications; such as Newspapers were employed. Unlike other research designs such as survey and interview, the documents analyzed in this study were originally cum officially published without the intent of this study thereby added to the validity of the study.
Methods of Data Collection, Presentation and Analysis
The data for the study was collected mainly through the secondary sources of data generation. They include newspaper publications, academic journals, government publications, textbooks, completed research projects, reports and online sources. Data gathered were presented and analyzed thematically in line with the three specific objectives of the study.
CHAPTER FOUR
INDICATORS OF ELECTORAL FRAUDS IN THE NIGERIAN ELECTORAL SYSTEM
Interrogating cum ascertaining the indicators of Electoral Fraud in Nigeria is a worthwhile activity as it will bring to the fore the various ways by which Electoral Frauds manifest in the Nigerian electoral system. As have been variously observed by scholars in the preceding chapters, elections in Nigeria since independence and even contemporary in the country’s fourth republic is riddled with myriad cases of malpractices. These according to Okon (2022, p. 39) include “illegal printing of voters’ cards, illegal possession of ballot boxes, stuffing of ballot boxes, falsification of election results, illegal thumb-printing of ballot papers, infant or underage voting, compilation of fictitious names on voters’ lists, illegal compilation of separate voters’ lists, illegal printing of forms used for collection and declaration of election results, deliberate refusal to supply election materials to certain areas, announcing results in places where no elections were held, unauthorized announcement of election results, harassment of candidates, agents, and voters, change of list of electoral officials, box-switching and inflation of figures.
CHAPTER FIVE
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Contemporarily, it is argued that democracy is the best system of government as it gives the people the chance to actively participate in the decision making process of the government and one of the key foundation stones of democracy is periodic free, fair and credible elections which gives the citizens the chance to regulate the activities of government vis-à-vis supporting a particular government or to change it. Therefore, election gives the people the opportunity to hold government accountable as well as facilitate the expression of public opinion.
It is against this backdrop that notable cases of Electoral Frauds that takes power from the people with its concomitant adverse effect is a worrisome phenomenon that must be nipped in the bud. Otherwise, the practice of democracy is at best theoretical and loses the essence of it. The study therefore, concludes that all hands must be on deck to checkmate all manner of Electoral Frauds in the country in order to usher in government that truly reflects the opinion and choices of the people.
Sequel to above, the study specifically recommends that, there is need for inter-agency coordination of different security outfit in and around voting arena in order to forestall or prevent some of the noted indicators of Electoral Frauds such as intimidation of voters, ballot box snatching, vote buying and underage voting. Furthermore, given the noted adverse effect Electoral Frauds have on the Democratic Governance in Nigeria, it becomes quite urgent for all hands to be on deck to stymie this ugly incidences of Electoral Frauds. Therefore, urgent practical steps must be taken to re-orient the people on this ugly incidence and the actions to be taken to forestall it. Finally, there is urgent need to put in place mechanisms that promote prompt and effective implementation of laws and policies targeted at electoral fraud or malpractices. Those caught in the act should be severely punished and made to be a scape goat to prevent future occurrence.
Democracy is often regarded as the most esteemed type of governance in the modern era, as it facilitates substantial citizen engagement in decision-making and policy development via elected representatives. However, the viability of democracy is compromised in situations when there is a significant disregard for fundamental democratic ideals, particularly in regard to Electoral Fraud, violence, and the electoral process. The restoration of democratic governance in the country on May 29, 1999, generated much optimism and anticipation among the public. This development offered them the opportunity to freely and fairly express their preferences for political office holders through an open and competitive electoral system.
Paradoxically, empirical evidence indicates that these desires and ambitions were not fulfilled. The electoral cycles of 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015, and 2019 have consistently seen instances of manipulation by political elites, who employ tactics such as ballot snatching and hoarding of electoral materials to benefit specific parties and candidates unfairly. The democratization process has been hindered since the inception of the Fourth Republic. On the contrary, in order to mitigate the adverse effects on Nigeria’s vulnerable state and democratic institutions, it is imperative for civil society groups and other professional organizations that played an active role in ending military rule in the country to mobilize once more. In order to facilitate the democratization and developmental processes of Nigeria, it is crucial to recognize the significance of transformational leaders across many levels of governance, including local communities, states, and the federal government.
Numerous conjectures have been advanced by researchers regarding the strategies for attaining free and equitable elections in Nigeria. Several experts have proposed a set of proposals aimed at ensuring a free and fair election in Nigeria. These recommendations include the establishment of an independent electoral authority, the independence of the court, and the implementation of stated electoral regulations. However, despite the guidelines mentioned above, Nigeria has persistently experienced electoral malfeasance and violence. Several of the approaches employed are of a fairly advanced nature.
The proposals put out by esteemed scholars have been ineffective in addressing the challenges related to Electoral Fraud in Nigeria. This failure can be attributed to the scholars’ oversight in considering the contextual factors that influence the implementation of their recommendations. This paper aims to propose environmentally viable alternatives for addressing Electoral Fraud and violence in Nigeria, taking into account the unique characteristics of the country’s environment.
Efforts should be made to address the issue of Godfatherism and incumbency, as well as to mitigate the negative impacts of violence, corruption, and impunity in order to improve the election process. The sustainability of government legitimacy and the Democratic Governance may be compromised unless political leaders consistently uphold the principles of the rule of law, constitutionalism, and democratic values.
Furthermore, it is imperative to discourage the current practice of two consecutive four-year terms in Nigerian politics due to the influence of incumbency. The presence of incumbency has significantly hindered the conduct of elections in a manner that is both free and fair. The current officeholders have faced allegations of utilizing the governmental machinery and leveraging patronage to sway electoral outcomes in their own favour. The act of voluntarily relinquishing political power following an electoral defeat necessitates leaders who possess a sincere reverence for higher power and demonstrate a profound regard for the well- being and dignity of all individuals. In contrast, the entire apparatus of the state is mobilized to secure electoral triumph, even in defiance of the prevailing desires of the populace. In order to mitigate the influence of incumbency on electoral manipulation, it is imperative to actively prevent the phenomenon of second-term syndrome, which is now prevalent. Consequently, it is recommended that a single term of five years be implemented as a viable alternative. In order to effectively address electoral fraud in Nigeria, it is imperative to take into account the significant socioeconomic disparity between individuals of varying economic statuses. Undoubtedly, poverty has exerted a detrimental influence on electoral behavior through three distinct mechanisms. Firstly, it fosters the practice of exchanging votes for monetary gain among the electorate. Secondly, it hampers candidates and political parties from accessing media platforms on an equitable basis, thereby impeding the dissemination of information and knowledge to citizens.
Lastly, poverty facilitates the emergence of a perilous phenomenon known as the godfather- godson syndrome. The coexistence of intellectual poverty and economic poverty has created fertile ground for political manipulation. Several factors have presented obstacles to achieving political equity. An individual vying for office with substandard qualifications and a limited understanding of government may accumulate substantial wealth. This wealth empowers them to interact with intellectually curious individuals, create informative posters for educating the electorate, and provide incentives to various stakeholders in the electoral process.
This occurrence stems from the potential capacity of affluent candidates or their influential backers to utilize their resources in order to sway economically disadvantaged individuals, either before or on Election Day, thereby manipulating the voting process and electoral results. There exists an equal possibility of engaging in the purchase of votes, as well as influencing polling and counting authorities and law enforcement personnel who are experiencing financial need. The complicity of electoral officials in enabling election manipulation by affluent politicians is evident. The existence of poverty has facilitated the creation of a concerning phenomenon in Nigerian politics known as godfatherism and godson syndrome. In many instances, godfathers are individuals of affluence who strategically endorse financially disadvantaged politicians with the aim of reaping electoral gains.
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