Beyond the 2019 General Election: Critical Lessons for Nigeria’s Democratic Experiment
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Abstract
With the high level of violence and fraud recorded during different elections held in 2019, Nigeria may have consolidated her image abroad as being incapable of conducting free and credible polls, despite twenty years of uninterrupted civil rule. This culture of electoral fraud is traceable to the actions and inactions of all cadres of stakeholders in the polity. Politicians have assumed office after willfully subverting the wishes of voters. Most electorates, like in past elections, voted along ethnic and religious lines after receiving pittances. It is plausible to say that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) remains under the stranglehold of politicians. Above all, the Nigerian Constitution continues unruffled in its calculated assault against democracy and social progress. Everything continues as usual; yet hope for change rises even higher. Using data from a variety of published and unpublished sources, this chapter is a critical exposition of Nigeria’s 2019 general election. It discusses especially the lessons that were not learned in twenty years of democratic experience, for which reason credible elections and democratic consolidation have been a mirage and an international embarrassment to Nigeria.
Abstract
With the high level of violence and fraud recorded during different elections held in 2019, Nigeria may have consolidated her image abroad as being incapable of conducting free and credible polls, despite twenty years of uninterrupted civil rule. This culture of electoral fraud is traceable to the actions and inactions of all cadres of stakeholders in the polity. Politicians have assumed office after willfully subverting the wishes of voters. Most electorates, like in past elections, voted along ethnic and religious lines after receiving pittances. It is plausible to say that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) remains under the stranglehold of politicians. Above all, the Nigerian Constitution continues unruffled in its calculated assault against democracy and social progress. Everything continues as usual; yet hope for change rises even higher. Using data from a variety of published and unpublished sources, this chapter is a critical exposition of Nigeria’s 2019 general election. It discusses especially the lessons that were not learned in twenty years of democratic experience, for which reason credible elections and democratic consolidation have been a mirage and an international embarrassment to Nigeria.
Chapters in this book
- 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
Chapters in this book
- 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
