CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study
Elections have not only become an instrument for the demise of authoritarianism or a transition to democracy but the credibility of electoral process has equally become the instrument for determining the integrity and legitimacy of a democratic regime. Therefore credible election is the general acceptance of its conduct as free and fair by citizens and international community. Acceptability of election results by stakeholders would thus increases the chances of consolidation of democracy.
The challenges of electoral malpractice since 1999 to date in Nigeria’s fourth republic democratic experiment has indeed become source of concern, thus questioning consolidating democracy in the country. There are three types of electoral malpractices, pre-election, election period and post-election period (Birch, 2009; Norris, 2012; Olawole et al., 2013; Ugwuja, 2015). The manipulation of rules, the manipulation of voters and the manipulation of voting. By manipulation of rules, electoral laws are distorted so as to favor one party or contestant in an election. For example, when the rules administering candidacy prevent certain political forces from contesting elections, or when large sectors of the adult population are excluded from voting. The manipulation of voters is either to distort voter’s preferences or to sway preference expression. The first one involves illicit forms of campaign tactics that are deceptive and that violate campaign finance laws or severe bias in media coverage of the election. The second form consist of alteration of how preferences are expressed at the polling station, through vote-buying or intimidation in the aim of increasing the vote of a specific political force. Voting manipulation consist of electoral maladministration, such as ballot-box stuffing, mis-reporting, under-provision of voting facilities in opposition strong-holds, lack of transparency in the organization of the election, bias in the way electoral disputes are adjudicated in the courts, and so on (Birch, 2009).
The right to vote is a civic responsibility or public function conferred upon the citizen for reason of social expediency (Olawole et al., 2013). There is strong relationship in Africa’s electoral malpractices with the type and forms of historical system practiced by each society, coupled with the class structure, social stratification, aestheticism and religious differences. Thus conclude that until elections become completely competitive and the electorates are free to make a choice between alternatives and that a liberal political system is put in place, there will always be electoral malpractice (Birch, 2009). In Africa, the scenario is a curse to the electorate and a gimmick played by politicians who seek to legitimize the illegitimate practice of coercing citizens into voting for them on the backdrop of rampant electoral rigging (Mapuva, 2013).
Democracy is not immutable. The institutions of democracy are fragile in the sense that they take a long time to build up but can collapse significantly more quickly, through violence. However, democratization can also creep forward, by small but conscious adjustments of important details of the structures. Without anyone really wanting it to happen, the institutions of democracy can thus lose their efficacy and their norms. This can take place by critical development being neglected or by political representatives consciously or recklessly misusing the confidence of citizens (Report of the Government Commission on Swedish Democracy Official Government Reports-SOU 2000:1). Democratic consolidation consists narrowing of democratic uncertainties through normalization of behavioral and institutional changes. The normalization requires the expansion of citizen access, development of democratic citizenship and culture, broadening of leadership recruitment and training, and other functions that civil society performs. But, most of all, and most urgently, it requires political institutionalization (Matlosa, 2008). Thus democracy is consolidated whenever political and economic situations of a particular system of institutions become the only game in town, when no one can imagine acting outside the democratic institutions, when all losers (of political contest) want to try again within the same institution under which they have just lost (O’Donnell, 1996). It is argued that a democracy is consolidated when power is alternated between rival parties, support for system is continued during time of economic hardship, rebels are defeated and punished, the regime remain stable in the face of restructuring of the party system, and there exists no significant anti-system (Okoye et al., 2012).
Based on the above premises the study intends to investigate the impact of electoral malpractice on the democracy in Nigeria
1.2 Statement of Problem
It means one thing to conduct an election and make a transition to democracy or even conduct regular elections for years after transition. It also means another thing to have credible election that is generally accepted as free and fair by citizens and international community. Acceptability of election results by stakeholders would therefore increases the chances of consolidation of democracy. This paper will be an investigation of how electoral irregularities have challenged the consolidating democracy in Nigeria’s. It discusses questioning legitimacy of a government as a result of electoral fraud and subsequent violence which may even lead to “deconsolidation” of democracy. The challenges of electoral malpractice since 1999 to date in Nigeria’s democratic experiment has indeed become source of concern, thus questioning consolidating democracy in the country.
1.3 Objective of the Study
The broad objective of the study will be to examine the effect of electoral malpractice on Democracy in Nigeria. The specific objective include:
1. To examine if electoral malpractice influence the fundamental human right of the people.
2. To check if electoral malpractice can debunk the State Sovereignty.
3. To mirror out if electoral malpractice affect the federalism system of government that is practiced in the country.
1.4 Research Question
1. What effect does electoral malpractice has on fundamental human right of the people?
2. Can electoral malpractice debunk the awareness of State Sovereignty?
3. How does electoral malpractice affect the Federalism system of government in practiced in the country?
1.5 Research Hypothesis
H0= Electoral Malpractice has no effect on State Sovereignty
H1= Electoral Malpractice has effect on State Sovereignty
1.6 Significance of the Study
This study will be relevant for the following stakeholder which include the; the political parties, the public servants and citizens.
The political parties will from the finding of the study be able to know the havoc that electoral malpractice induce on the democratic system the country in practicing. It will aid to allow the political parties to know that the party’s political ambition is not greater than the democracy of the nation.
The public servants will from the findings know that any political post they aspire for is to attain the overall democracy of the country
The citizens will from the study by informed of the dangers and negative spell of the act on the overall democracy of the country.
1.7 Scope of the Study
The study will employ the descriptive research design. The study will use the questionnaire to source the required raw data from the respondent. The study will use the purposive sampling technique which will involve the two most prominent political party in the country (APC and PDP).The study will use the percentage and frequency distribution for the question and the simple linear regression analysis for the hypothesis.
1.8 Definition of Terms
Election: It is a formal decision-making in which executives decide whom they want in the public office.
Electoral Malpractice: It is the process of annulling the interest of the electorates through a dubious means in assuming or putting one in public office
Democracy: It is a government where the fundamental human right of the people is effective to aid ruling the state