Democracy and Electoral Integrity in Nigeria: A Critical Evaluation of the 2023 Presidential Election
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Date
2025-06-29
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Malete Journal of Politics, Peace and Administration (MAJOPPAD)
Abstract
Democracy thrives on free, fair, and credible elections that empower citizens to choose their leaders and engage in governance. Elections are fundamental to democracy, enabling the peaceful transfer of power and reflecting the people’s collective will. Despite the reforms introduced by the Electoral Act of 2022, such as the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and electronic transmission of results, the 2023 presidential election faced allegations of irregularities, including vote-buying, polling disruptions, violence, and delayed result transmission. The paper adopts Electoral Systems Theory, developed primarily by Arend Lijphart (1984) and Robert A. Dahl (1989). The study employed a qualitative research design and relied on secondary sources gathered from official reports, including those from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and reports from local and international election observers. The study revealed that the Electoral Act of 2022 introduced reforms, including the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV), aimed at enhancing credibility, transparency, and reducing voter fraud. It showed that electoral violence was one significant challenge that disrupted the election process in 2023. The paper recommended that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should prioritize enhancing electoral technology, specifically by improving the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV). The Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies should coordinate with INEC to deploy sufficient security personnel to vulnerable areas before, during, and after the election.