ABSTRACT
1. This research is about the security implication of election rigging in 3rd world countries: A case
study of Nigeria. The study was geared at determining 4
distinct objectives. These are to establish the relationship between conduct of
election and national security. Thereafter, the nature of Nigeria electoral
process would be examined. The implications of electoral process on the
national security were then established. Finally ways of enhancing the conduct
of elections in Nigeria were proffered.
2. The descriptive research method was used for
the study. The research revealed that conduct of elections is a means to
achieving national security. It was further discovered that Nigeria’s electoral
process the FPTP system has an inherent shortfall in the area of
under-representation of minority groups. This often leads to disenchantment and violence. Furthermore, the study revealed the need for a
review of the aspect of the constitution relating to the appointment and
removal of chairman and membership of INEC. In the same vein, the study
stressed the pitfall on the reliance of the electoral management body (EMB) on
the executive for the approval of its financial budget.
3. To this end, adopting the Proportional
Representatives Electoral system and the funding of INEC from established
consolidated revenue is considered expedient. Also, the imperatives of labour
and civil societies playing a key role in constituting members of EMB were
highlighted.
CHAPTER
ONE
INTRODUCTION
BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY
1. Over
the years, nations have risen and fallen due to the deeds or misdeeds of its leaders. Good leadership can determine the
success or failure of a country as it inspires, directs and mobilizes the
citizens to pursue a common goal. The role of leadership in
the success of nations has necessitated the quest for a viable means of
selecting leaders. Robert
Art defines leadership as one of the most dynamic elements
of organizational life such that
the effectiveness of an organization depends on the quality of
its leadership.1Consequently,
nations strive to select
efficient and effective leaders through the consent of the governed. The
mechanism for translating this consent into governmental authority is by the
use of a democratic process.
2. The democratic process of selecting a
leader is referred to as elections. Election
is the process of selecting a few persons from a group as representative sample
of the group. It is an essential element of democracy since it reflects the
wishes of the people.2 Attesting to this, Bello-Imam a renowned
political scientist define election as the process by which citizens choose
their representatives in accordance with mechanism fixed by the constitution or
established government of a state.3The origin
of elections can be traced to ancient Roman and Greek empires in the Twelfth Century.
In those empires, election is done with
voting by show of hands and acclamation by voice. In some other situations,
decisions were made by use of secret ballots in the form of white and black
pebbles, marked or unmarked shell or carved wooden tablets.4
3. Globally elections, follow processes which
differ from nation to nation. These processes may include the selection of
candidates, the registration of voters and the voting procedures amongst
others. These procedures are unique and differ from one country to another. For
example, in USA, the National Government established federal electoral
requirements, which many of the states adopt to reduce cost and avoid the
complexity of having two different systems.5
4. In Africa electoral processes are confronted
by several challenges especially in countries emerging from oppressive regimes
or long periods of dictatorship. This is because the electoral processes in
nascent democracies involve fragmented political parties with weak political
base. These political parties depend on few notable personalities or a shared
ethnic identity and affinity.6 In such instances, reason and
competence of the candidates are sacrificed for religion, ethnicity or parochial
cleavages. Regrettably, national development efforts suffer setbacks due to
leadership incompetence.7
5. Several scholars have argued that the greatest problem
confronting African countries are the prevailing political condition in the
conduct of elections. The right people are rarely elected and seldom opportune
to steer the affairs state. Sunil in agreement, observed that one of the
greatest challenges to confronting national development among African is
political leadership.8 Nigeria is no exception in this regard