The Impact of Electoral Reforms in Nigeria: A Comparative Analysis of the Outcome of Elections between 1999-2007 and 2011 2015 Eras
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Date
2017-01-21
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ProQuest LLC
Abstract
As elections are indisputably crucial to democratic system, so also is continuous
reform of the electoral process critical to credible elections in fledgling democracies.
Following a series of elections conducted in Nigeria that were marred with frauds,
violence and irregularities, substantive electoral reforms were carried out in 2010
and 2015 by the Jega led Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). In order
to establish areas that need to be adequately strengthened by the INEC with a view
to improving its operational capacity, and ultimately achieve desirably electoral
integrity, assessment of these reforms became imperative. Hence, the study
examines the impact of electoral reforms on the outcome of elections in 2011-2015
as compared to the 1999-2007 in Nigeria. Methodologically, primary method of data
collection was adopted which was augmented by secondary data. Questionnaires
were administered and interviews were conducted with the stakeholders in the
electoral process. Descriptive Simple Percentage) and Multiple Regression were used
as statistical tools of analysis. The study found that various reforms introduced into
the electoral process have positively impacted on the credibility that greeted the
2011-2015 general elections as opposed to the 1999-2007 elections. More
importantly, the newly introduced electoral technology (Smart Card Reader) has
significantly imbued the Nigerian electoral process with integrity, as it was adjudged
to have along with other reforms reduced electoral fraud, violence, and election
litigations. Also, these reforms have reposed citizens’ confidence in the electoral
process cum competitive politics. Conversely however, findings revealed that
electoral reforms have not improved efficient and effective electoral administration
in the 2011-2015 general elections despite the fact that these reforms facilitated
credible elections. Hence, it is in views of this study that: various reform innovations
by the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) should be sustained and
even improved upon; citizens’ trust in electoral process should be far less betrayed to
ensure much needed political participation; while infrastructuralless challenged
environment should be created to improve INEC’s efficiency and effectiveness. All
these became imperative because free, fair, credible and acceptable elections are
incontrovertibly inevitable to desirably viable democracy.