ELECTORAL MANIPULATION AND DEMOCRATIC PROCESS IN NIGERIA: LESSONS FOR THE 2019 GENERAL ELECTIONS

Abstract

Elections are the most important aspect of democracy for both citizens in a country and the politicians. A free and fair election guarantee the trust of the citizens in the elected government. People participate in elections and choose their representatives in the government. In Nigeria, however, elections have been the main problem of democratization processes. Over the years, the political elites have made a mess of the electoral norms, and virtually everything about election has been criminalized. The attitude of the Political class, coupled with apathy and indecision on the side of the electorate, together with insincerity and corrupt tendencies of the electoral umpire has created a permanent suspicion on the conduct and credibility of every election at whatever level in Nigeria. The paper examined electoral manipulation in Nigeria with its associated limitations. It revealed that electoral manipulation has over the years resulted to rancor, pandemonium, chaos and aggression between and amongst Nigerians with terrible break down of law and order. The paper adopted the elite theory as an approach, and concluded that election manipulation can deepen the hate and negative reaction with violent destruction of lives and properties. It advocated an improvement in the integrity of our elections, reform in the electoral processes, civic education to enlighten the citizenry of their rights, duties, and responsibilities before, during and after the elections amongst other recommendations.