The Conduct Of Elections And Electoral Practices In Nigeria

1 Introduction

“Those who make peaceful change impossible, make violent change inevitable.”

To a very large extent, elections and electoral practices shape the fate of the modern nation state. The reason for this is not difficult to establish. Elections provide the medium, by which the different interest groups within the modern nation state can stake and resolve their claims to power through peaceful means. Elections therefore determine the manner and methods by which changes in the social order may be brought about. Where this method fails, individuals and groups may be left to their own means – including assassinations, coup detats, revolutions, insurgency and bush wars – to press their claim to power. It is this fact more than any thing else that makes the subject of elections and electoral practices in Nigeria so crucial today. As we are aware, the controversial elections of 1965 produced the coup detat of January 1966. Again the flawed elections of 1983 produced the military coup of December 31, 1983. Finally, Babangida’s flawed elections of 1993 produced the Abacha palace coup of that year and paved the way to his memorable dictatorship. As we look now towards 2007 against the background of the failed elections of 2003 and 2004 the question naturally arises as to whether our country can arrive there in one piece or survive it in whatever form thereafter. In order to answer this question or suggest ways in which it can be answered so that we can arrive there, as one country with a renewed faith in the democratic process, there is a need to examine the nature of elections and its place in furthering democracy and development in a bourgeois social order such as ours.

2. Elections, Bourgeois Democracy and Development

Almost everywhere, the enlightened self-interest of the ruling class dictated that autocracy be replaced first by the classical form of democracy and that next, the classical form itself be replaced by its liberal form within the

References: Ake, C. (2001) Democracy and Development in Africa, Ibadan: Spectrum Books Akerele, A Barongo, Y. (1985), ‘The Impact of Military Rule on Working Class Consciousness in Nigeria’, Studies in Politics and Society, No. 3, April, pp. 3 -17. Buijtenhuijs, R. and Rijnierse, E. (1993) Democratisation in Sub-Saharan Africa: 1989-1992: An Overview of the Literature, Leiden: African studies Centre Cabral, A Dye, T.R. and Zeigler, L.H. (1971) The Irony of Democracy: An Uncommon Introduction to American Politics. Belmont, California: Duxbury Press Elaigwu, I Enahoro, A. (1985), ‘Independence, Democracy and Modern Nationhood: The Dominant Factor in Nigerian Politics’, Journal of the Nigerian Political Science Association, No. 4, October. Fashina, O. (1998) ‘Reflections on the National Question’, in Ken Saro-Wiwa and the Crisis of the Nigerian State: A CDHR Special Publication, Olorode, O., Raji, W., Ogunye, J. and Oladunjoye, T. (eds.) Lagos: CDHR, pp. 86 – 123. Fayemi, J. K., Jaye, T. and Yeebo, Z. (2003) ‘Democracy, Security and Poverty in Ghana: A Mid-Term Review of the Kufuor Administration’. Democracy and Development: Journal of West African Affairs, Harmattan Edition, Vol., 3, No., 3. pp. 51 – 84. Iyayi, F. (1985), ‘The Class Functions of Nigeria’s Labour Laws’, Studies in Politics and Society, No. 3, April, pp. 18 - 35 Iyayi, F Iyayi, F. (1986b) ‘State Intervention in Industrial Relations in Nigeria: Actions in Historical and Ideological Context’, Benin Journal Of Social Sciences, Vol. 1, No. 2, pp: 64 – 72. Iyayi, F. (1989) ‘Nigeria Since Independence: The Impact of Business Companies and Corporations’ in Usman, Yusufu Bala (ed.) Nigeria Since Independence: The First 25 Years, Ibadan: Heinemann Educational Books, pp. 1-50. Iyayi, F. (1995) ‘Democracy: A Global Labour Perspective’ Being paper presented at the Conference on Democracy and the Trade Unions’ organised by the Friedrich Ebert Foundation at the Circular Hotel, Ilorin. Joseph, R. (2003) ‘State, Governance and Insecurity in Africa,’ Democracy and Development: Journal of West African Affairs, Harmattan Edition, Vol., 3, No., 3. pp. 7-15 Ihonvbere, J.O Mahadi, A. and Kwanashie, G., (1998) Leadership and Accountability and the Future of Nigeria: Arewa House Annual Lectures in honour of Alhaji (Sir) Ahmadu Bello. Kaduna: Arewa House Mahadi, A Marx, K. (1978) ‘Manifesto in the Communist Party” in Feuer, L.S. (ed). Marx and Engels: Basic Writings on Politics and Philosophy Mohammed, Abubakar Sokoto (1989), ‘Nigeria Since Independence: The Working Class’, in Usman, Yusufu Bala (ed.) Nigeria Since Independence: The First 25 Years, Ibadan: Heinemann Offiong, D.A. (1980) Imperialism and Dependency: Obstacles to African Development. Enugu: Fourth Dimension Publications. Ofonagoro, W.I. (1979), Trade and Imperialism in Southern Nigeria: 1881-1929, Lagos: NOK Publishers Ogban-Iyam, O Okonjo, I.M. (1974) British Administration in Nigeria, 1900 – 1950: A Nigerian View. New York: NOK Publishers Olorode, O Oluwide, Baba (1993), Imoudu: A Biography: A Political History of Nigeria, 1939-1950, Ibadan, West African Economic Consultants and Social Research. Onimode, B. (1999) ‘Global Challenges Facing South Africa and Nigeria Towards the 21st Century’, Paper presented at the Nigeria-South Africa Dialogue, Johannesburg. Osuntokun, A. (2000) ‘Backward to the Future: The Need for a Fundamental Re-appraisal of the Nigerian Federal Structure’ in Devolution of Powers in a Federal State, Babawale, T., and Olasupo, B. (eds.) Lagos: Friedrich Ebert Foundation Sagay, I Soremekun, K. (2000) ‘Re-inventing Federalism in Nigeria’ in Devolution of Powers in a Federal State, Babawale, T., and Olasupo, B. (eds.) Lagos: Friedrich Ebert Foundation Toyo, E