Ruling and Opposition Parties’ Reactions to External Interference in the 2019 Presidential Election
-
Olawari D. J. Egbe
Abstract
At the close of the Cold War, Democracy Promotion (DP) by the Global North became pervasive in the Global South. Expectedly, world capitals - Washington DC, London, Paris, among others - have played influential roles in presidential elections in the Global South. Their influential roles are regarded as ‘silent votes’. They are external political interferences in domestic electioneering matters and often determine electoral outcomes judging from their power to influence voters, ruling and opposition parties, civil society organisations and others. This chapter examines the reactions of Nigeria’s ruling and opposition parties to such external interferences during Nigeria’s presidential elections. It considers the implications on public trust in one of the institutions of representative democracy - the political party. Since 1999, political parties have presented a Janus-faced approach to external interferences during electioneering periods. Whereas the ruling party expresses dissatisfaction and reservations, the opposition party applauds and profit from such external interferences. This scenario is typical of the manner the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) reacted to external influences in the 2015 and 2019 presidential elections respectively. Relying on secondary sources, supported by “the institutional performance model,” the authors conclude that African democracies should not totally interpret external influences as entirely disruptive as they help to strengthen and widen the democratic space. Instead, we recommend that if the political class is uncomfortable with external influences, it should be introspective and get used to strengthening national democracy watch institutions or collaborate with continental democracy watch institutions like the Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa to woo and secure legitimacy rather than seeking legitimacy from Western democracy watch institutions like the Royal Institute of International Affairs, London.
Abstract
At the close of the Cold War, Democracy Promotion (DP) by the Global North became pervasive in the Global South. Expectedly, world capitals - Washington DC, London, Paris, among others - have played influential roles in presidential elections in the Global South. Their influential roles are regarded as ‘silent votes’. They are external political interferences in domestic electioneering matters and often determine electoral outcomes judging from their power to influence voters, ruling and opposition parties, civil society organisations and others. This chapter examines the reactions of Nigeria’s ruling and opposition parties to such external interferences during Nigeria’s presidential elections. It considers the implications on public trust in one of the institutions of representative democracy - the political party. Since 1999, political parties have presented a Janus-faced approach to external interferences during electioneering periods. Whereas the ruling party expresses dissatisfaction and reservations, the opposition party applauds and profit from such external interferences. This scenario is typical of the manner the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) reacted to external influences in the 2015 and 2019 presidential elections respectively. Relying on secondary sources, supported by “the institutional performance model,” the authors conclude that African democracies should not totally interpret external influences as entirely disruptive as they help to strengthen and widen the democratic space. Instead, we recommend that if the political class is uncomfortable with external influences, it should be introspective and get used to strengthening national democracy watch institutions or collaborate with continental democracy watch institutions like the Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa to woo and secure legitimacy rather than seeking legitimacy from Western democracy watch institutions like the Royal Institute of International Affairs, London.
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Frontmatter I
- Acknowledgements V
- Foreword VII
- Table of Contents IX
- List of Abbreviations XI
- Map of Nigeria XV
- Introduction: Interrogating Democratisation Deficits in Nigeria From the 2019 General Election 1
- Political Parties, Political Opposition and Elections: Towards Consolidating Democracy in Nigeria 13
- The Silent Western Votes and the Emergence of the Buhari/APC Presidency 33
- Ruling and Opposition Parties’ Reactions to External Interference in the 2019 Presidential Election 55
- A Tale of Defective Democracy: De-Democratisation in Nigeria 73
- INEC, the Electoral Process and the Conduct of Elections in 2019 91
- Murdering Their Consciences, ‘Right to Vote’ and Ethno-Political Conflict in Lagos during the 2019 General Election 109
- Thuggery and Election Violence in the 2019 Election 131
- Electoral Politics and Violence in Taraba State 149
- The Security Implications of Election-related Violence in Nigeria and the Way Forward 173
- The Challenges of Election Security in Nigeria: A Study of the 2019 General Election 195
- Beyond the 2019 General Election: Critical Lessons for Nigeria’s Democratic Experiment 215
- Appendix: Timetable and Schedule of Activities for 2019 General Elections Independent National Electoral Commission 235
- List of Authors 239
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Frontmatter I
- Acknowledgements V
- Foreword VII
- Table of Contents IX
- List of Abbreviations XI
- Map of Nigeria XV
- Introduction: Interrogating Democratisation Deficits in Nigeria From the 2019 General Election 1
- Political Parties, Political Opposition and Elections: Towards Consolidating Democracy in Nigeria 13
- The Silent Western Votes and the Emergence of the Buhari/APC Presidency 33
- Ruling and Opposition Parties’ Reactions to External Interference in the 2019 Presidential Election 55
- A Tale of Defective Democracy: De-Democratisation in Nigeria 73
- INEC, the Electoral Process and the Conduct of Elections in 2019 91
- Murdering Their Consciences, ‘Right to Vote’ and Ethno-Political Conflict in Lagos during the 2019 General Election 109
- Thuggery and Election Violence in the 2019 Election 131
- Electoral Politics and Violence in Taraba State 149
- The Security Implications of Election-related Violence in Nigeria and the Way Forward 173
- The Challenges of Election Security in Nigeria: A Study of the 2019 General Election 195
- Beyond the 2019 General Election: Critical Lessons for Nigeria’s Democratic Experiment 215
- Appendix: Timetable and Schedule of Activities for 2019 General Elections Independent National Electoral Commission 235
- List of Authors 239
