Election Observers and Electoral Administrators in Nigeria Fourth Republic: A Study of the 2023 General Election
Chapter One
Research Objectives
The objectives of this research are:
- To identify the role observers played in the fourth republic in Nigeria.
- To identify the challenges faced by foreign election observers in carrying out their duties.
- To identify the effect of having observers on election grounds have on the conduct of elections.
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
Democracy
Within the last decade, democracy can arguably be said to be the most sought after and yet the least understood system of government known to mankind. The collapse of the authoritarian regimes in Eastern Europe, the end of the cold war and an upsurge of natural agitations in many parts of the world seem to have opened the flood gates for new definition of the concept of democracy. (Tunde Babawale 2007:37) Schumpeter. J. (1943:15) defines it as an institutional agreement for arriving at political decisions in which individual acquires the power to decide by means of a competitive struggle for people’s vote.
Dahl, R (1956:22) advances the argument further to make it inclusive of high level of civil liberties participations, and political pluralism. To sum up, what characterizes democracy, it has also been defined as “the government of the people by the people and for the people” (Edson Howard, 1960:11). It is clear from all these definitions that democracy has certain empirical referents which may be identified as follows: meaningful competitions among individuals and organized groups, especially the political parties for all the elective positions of government power, at regular intervals and excluding the use of force, a high level of political participation in the selection of leaders and policies at least through regular and fair elections, and a level of civil and political liberties, freedom of expression freedom of the press, freedom to join organizations, sufficient to ensure the integrity of political competition and participation.
Democratic Consolidation
“Literacy, the concept means an identifiable phase in the transition from authoritarian rule to civil rule and by extension of democratic systems that are germane and fundamental to the establishment and enthronement of a stable, institutional and enduring democracy. Democratic consolidation therefore calls for the enthronement of democracy as a system of organizing both societies and government and creating concomitant institutions. Essentially, arriving at a consolidated democracy require nurturing democratic values, ethics, principles and institutions in a mature sense that prevents a revert to hitherto authoritarian regime.” (Diamond Larry, 1997:7). This is also about test on successful transfer of power and democratic survival within a period of time. Therefore, Nigeria as a nation cannot shy away from the tenets of democratic consolidation. The players and supporters must abide by the poll verdict.
CHAPTER THREE
METHODOLOGICAL AND DESIGN CONSIDERATION
INTRODUCTION
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The study of international election monitoring groups in Nigeria’s fourth republic comprises both primary and secondary research such as archival/library, internet searches, and survey (that is, the authors’ compilation). Accordingly, various types of documents and publications are utilized, not excluding observation of non-verbal clues. Extant literature provided the historical context for this study, as well as the analysis of INEC documents, interactions with INEC officials and direct involvement during the 2011 general election. This study covered essentially general elections of 1999, 2003, 2007, and 2011. The content analytical approach was employed to evaluate the activities and contributions of six identified international election observers.
CHAPTER FOUR
ASSESSMENT OF ELECTIONS IN NIGERIA’S FOURTH REPUBLIC BY THE INTERNATIONAL OBSERVERS
INTRODUCTION
This section delves into the general elections conducted in Nigeria’s fourth republic and provides systematic presentation in tabular forms. The sample framework includes six international election observers while their reports were analyzed using content approach.
CHAPTER FIVE
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
CONCLUSION
The preceding exposition elucidated panoramic view of the role of international election observers in Nigerian fourth republic. The sustenance of democratic decorum depends largely on the freeness and fairness of an election, pictured with global electoral norm. The international election observers serve as intermediary between the political contestants and the electorates to build trust and credible electoral processes through the standardized global methodological benchmarks for the conduct of an election. They play major role in evaluating pre-election, election and post-election activities through a standard electoral technique to guarantee stringent democratic compliance all over the world. Nigeria’s failure to conduct credible election from independent has attracts international election observers to assess the level of electoral irregularities and proffer recommendations on how best these incongruities could be tamed. The 1999, 2003 and 2007 elections witnessed immeasurable electoral riggings while 2011 election chose the path to democratic sanctity deemed to have reflected the sacrosanct will of the electorate in Nigeria, therefore, in achieving credible election, the role of international election observers could not be misconstrued in ensuring free and fair election in Nigerian fourth republic.
Wondwosen, T. (2008). International election observers in Africa: The case of Ethiopia’s Alternatives. Turkish Journal of International Relations, Vol. 7, No. 1. On the whole, Independence National Electoral Commission (INEC) has done well, likewise, the national security operatives. Also, Nigerians that troop out to vote enmas and made change possible deserve commendation for the success of the fourth republic. And, the observers for a job well done for taking their time, energy and courage to travel around the country and ensure that the election was actually free and fair in line with tenents of democracy. The Electoral Commission should be praised for new ideas introduced into the electoral process, especially the Smart Card Reader and the replacement of Temporary Voters Card with the Permanent Voters Card. This also added value to the electoral processes. The culture should be sustained in the fourth republic. Above all, kudos go to the former President Gooodluck Jonathan for conceding defeat and congratulating the president elect, General Muhammedu Buhari. Finally, election shape the destiny of a nation and determine the way changes and progress flow, under the watch of international observer, it deserves to be taken serious. Therefore, Nigeria as a member of international Community cannot ignore the comments, observations and report that emanates from observers because they are umpire that gives verdict to the credence of democracy around the world.
RECOMMENDATIONS
This paper proffers some recommendation to stretching the practice of democracy and consolidation in Nigeria under three sub-heading namely: Political parties, State, INEC and Observers role.
- Political Parties Membership Enlightenment: The behaviour of political party’s members still leaves much to be desired, hooliganism, thuggery and destruction of public property still happened in 2015 presidential election. Therefore, political parties need to educate voters and parties supporters on how to behave and conduct themselves during the political campaign.
- State and federal government support: the state government need to work in tandem with local government areas to ensure that voters registration list is ready and submit the same to the state electoral office before the electoral commission deadline. This will minimize pressure on the INEC in preparing the master list for election.
- The Federal Government of Nigeria should also ensure that budget prepared by the electoral commission is approved and fund released to the organization six months before the elections commence.
INEC Action: The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) need to take cognizance of the constraints encountered in the conduct of 2015 presidential election and put in place measures to forestall the mistakes of the future presidential elections.
Registration of Voters: This should be a continuous process as people become eligible for universal adult suffrage.
Collection of PVC’s: More centres should be created in the states for easy collection of the permanent voters cards (PVCs). It should be every year and collection within two weeks.
Employment of Ad-hoc Staff for Election: There is need to employ more staff to cope with the General conduct of Election. The Electoral Commission should organize training for them at least six weeks before the election date. This would enhance their competence and performance during the election.
Readers Machine: The INEC office should ensure that it is tested before being dispatched to the polling stations.
Security of INEC Personnel and Election Materials: In the future elections, military Police should be engaged at the polling units and collation centres instead of Nigerian Police.
Collaboration with International Organization: To ensure credibility of national election in Nigeria, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) need to work with International Monitoring team and Implement their advices on genuine election in Nigeria.
Funding of Election: The national government should ensure that budget for the presidential election is approved and released in time for the electoral commission.
Electoral Reform Law: The national assembly needs to fortify the electoral commission by approving enabling bills that will make the organization truly independent and remove it from the control of the presidency. The Nigeria Electoral Law Reform Panel recommendations headed by Justice Muhammed Uwais should be looked into with a view put into use in the future election.
Advance Dialogue and Peace Pact: Democracy has now become a dominant theme in the international discourse while the role of the international observer is also a first to reckon with therefore the international monitoring team most encourage political gladiators to dialogue and sign a peace pact towards free and fair election.
The way forward: charting the way forward, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) need to take cognizance of the constructs encountered in the conduct of 2015 presidential election and put in place measures to forestall the mistakes of the future presidential elections.
Registration of Voters: This should be done one to two years ahead of the election.
Collection of PVCs: More centres should be created in the states for easy collection of the permanent voters cards (PVCs). It should be every year and collection within two weeks.
Voters Education: Sustainable, continuous civic and voters education in local languages in the rural areas is necessary and important.
Employment of Adhoc Staff for Election: There is need to employ more staff to cope with the General conduct of Election. The Electoral Commission should organize training for them at least six weeks before the election date. This would enhance their competence and performance during the election.
Card Reader Machine: The INEC office should ensure that it is tested okay before dispatch to the polling stations.
Security for INEC Personnel and Election Materials: In the future elections, military Police should be engaged at the polling units and collation centres instead of Nigeria Police.
Collaboration with International Organizations: To ensure credibility of national election in Nigeria, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) need to work with International Monitoring team and implement their genuine advices on election in Nigeria.
FUTURE RESEARCH STUDIES
Party Politics, Elections and Democratic consolidation has become and International issues and concern of the global village. Nigeria fourth republic has revealed that some gap still need to be filled in the field of African politics and democratic consolidation. The areas that require astute attention of political scientists in future are:
- Parochial culture towards politics and new participation by the middle class in Nigeria.
- The Electoral reform Acts to strengthen the independence of National Electoral Commission in Nigeria, and conduct of fraud free elections.
- The use of National Election to promote National Integration in Nigeria, and the Money Politics and God fatherism sub version of Democracy in African states.
- Future research studies will go a long way in finding durable solutions to political crisis associated with Election and democratic consolidation in African states and Nigeria in particular. It will ensure credible election and promote national development.
REFERENCE
- ACE Electoral Knowledge Network (2013). The ACE Encyclopedia: Electoral Integrity; Published. ACE Electoral Knowledge Network
- Alabi, A. & Sakariyau, R. (2013). Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Conduct of 2011 Election in Nigeria: A Paradigm Shift. International Journal of Politics and Good Governance. Volume 4, No. 4.1 Quarter I
- Awopeju, A. 2012. 2011’s Presidential Election and the Political Participation in Nigeria. Canadian Social Science Vol. 8, No. 2 pp. 96-103
- Bamgbose, J. (2012). Electoral Violence and Nigeria’s 2011 General Elections. International Review of Social Sciences and Humanities Vol. 4, No. 1
- Beaulieu. E. & Hyde, S. (2007). In the Shadow of Democracy Promotion: Strategic Manipulation, International Observers, and Election Boycotts [available at: http//www.hyde.research.yale.edu/bealieu_Hyde.pdf].
- Central Election Commission (2006). Guide for International Observers: The 2006 Palestinian Legislative Council Elections. Palestine: Central Election Commission
- DFID 2010. 2007 Elections in Nigeria. Department for International Development
- Ezekwe . I. & Eme, O. (2010). Election observers’ mission and April 2007 elections in Nigeria: lessons for 2011 elections. Journal of Social Science and Public Policy. Volume 2.
