Independent National Electoral Commission Research Articles

Issues and regulations in party financing and electoral expenses in Nigeria (1999–2020)

ABSTRACT Political parties require strong financial backing to operate. Campaign activities require massive spending to convince electorates to accept the candidature of political parties in their locations. Yet, there are financial regulations on how campaigns and related activities should be conducted in Nigeria. This is to ensure transparency and accountability and eschew corrupt practices in the electoral process. However, despite these constitutional regulations and the provision of the Nigerian Electoral Act 2010, there seem to be cases of violations of financial regulations and weak enforcement of penalties. Thus, this paper examines the regulations in political party financing in Nigeria and the measures needed to ensure compliance. The work adopted a particularistic qualitative method of data collection and analysis. It uses primary (obtained from agencies) and secondary (government’s document and laws) data. The paper concludes that, while there are well-articulated regulations on political party financing in Nigeria, their implementation, monitoring, and enforcement, as well as the sanction of offenders remain very weak. The paper, therefore, recommends that policy makers, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and civil societies need to ensure compliance.

The Supreme Court’s decision in senator hope Uzodinma & all progressives congress (APC) V. Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) & independent national electoral commission (INEC): A case of corruption or preponderance of evidence?

The Supreme Court’s decision in senator hope Uzodinma & all progressives congress (APC) V. Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) & independent national electoral commission (INEC): A case of corruption or preponderance of evidence?

The Management of Youth Involvement in Election Violence in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa: Causes, Issues, Actors and Management

This study examined the management of youth involvement in election violence in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, Nigeria. All violence linked to election is mostly perpetrated by the youths who are not only in the service of the politicians but also financed by them so long as they do the biddings. The study adopted a descriptive survey design. Data was collected through primary and secondary sources. A total of 125 questionnaire were administered and 110 retrieved for analysis using SPSS 21. Poor implementation of electoral laws, lack of self-confidence of politicians, difficult environmental terrain, godfatherism, proliferation of small and light weapons cause violence during elections in the study area. Ex-militant and other criminal gangs, the independent National Electoral Commission and Security personnel are the major actors in election violence in the study area. The creation of skill acquisition programmes, sensitization and legal framework designed for combating electoral violence, address the issue of youth involvement in election violence, and difficult terrain, no access roads, inaccessibility of police stations in the area, poor communication network are clog on the wheel of managing youth involvement in election violence in the study area. Adequate empowerment programs must be put in place for youths; government should establish more security posts in the study area. State and federal government should construct more roads to link the area together. The role most youths perform in the political and electoral process is violent in nature and that youths are vulnerable instrument of electoral violence.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (Inec) and the Challenges Electoral Administration in Nigeria: The Path to Credibility

The Independent National Electoral Commission (Inec) and the Challenges Electoral Administration in Nigeria: The Path to Credibility

Election Related Violence in Nigeria: Perspectives, Policies and Prospects

Electoral Related Violence (ERV) is one of the major problems bedevilling the Nigerian democratic system with severe outcomes such as the loss of lives and property, violation of the rule of law, weak democratic governments and poor leadership among others. This study was carried out with the main aim of examining the perspectives, policies and prospects of ERV in Nigeria. The study explored the various dimensions of ERV, the laws that are set up to ensure elections are peaceful and finally, the means of ensuring that ERV is prevented or controlled by the implementation of the relevant laws.The mixed methods research technique was utilized for the gathering of data for this study; both qualitative and quantitative research methods were used. A total of 500 randomly selected electoral workers from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were employed for the survey, the respondents were issued questionnaires and also interviewed. The perspectives of ERV that emerged from the study include the provision of a viable health policy for electoral workers, use of technology, improved security measures, independence of electoral bodies, threats and kidnapping, education and training of electoral staff, vote buying and public office attraction. The study also showed that there were already some very important laws and acts contained in the electoral act and the constitution that were designed to address various types of electoral malpractice effectively, however, there have been a very poor implementation of the essential laws that are supposed to act as punitive measures for those found guilty of breaching electoral laws as well acting as dissuading factors for those with criminal intent.The Nigerian electoral law dictates that the relevant punitive measures for electoral malpractice include fines, conviction or both. After exploring the perspectives and policies addressing ERV, this study recommends the adoption of modern communication technologies for election monitoring and exchange of information, strengthening of the security apparatus, full implementation of all relevant existing laws and electoral acts capable of reducing ERV by punishment, provision of relevant health and welfare packages for electoral workers. The study further suggests that the transparency of electoral bodies and provision of adequate education for the masses should be effected as some of the approaches that can be adopted as measures for the reduction or total elimination of ERV among other measures. Keywords: Electoral Related Violence, Perspectives, Policies, Prospects DOI: 10.7176/DCS/12-1-04 Publication date: January 31 st 2022

Election Related Violence in Nigeria: The Health, Education and Security Perspectives. A Qualitative Study

Democracy as a system of government is commonly practised in most countries of the world. While it is popular mostly due to its unique attribute of selecting leaders through elections, it is characterized by various levels of violence in some regions especially among developing countries. The violence that is perpetrated before, during and after elections is mostly referred to as Election Related Violence (ERV). ERV tends to affect most areas of a country’s development thereby leading to poor governance, insecurity, corruption among other effects. This study seeks to investigate the health, educational and security perspectives of ERV. The methodology employed for the gathering of data for this study was the qualitative research method. Thirteen purposively selected participants were interviewed; these participants were staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) who may have experienced ERV in the course of their jobs. The interviews and questionnaires were designed to elicit responses on the respondents’ views on the health, education and security perspectives of ERV. The responses obtained from the respondents were grouped thematically; some of the themes that emerged from the study include the negative actions of political parties and candidates, lack of adequate political education among the masses and the inadequate welfare packages for electoral workers, etc. This research suggests that for peaceful elections to be achievable in Nigeria and other countries with similar challenges, the relevant laws dissuading ERV have to be enforced, mass political education for the masses will need to be properly designed and implemented, adequate welfare and training for electoral workers and an improved security system for elections will have to be developed among other measures recommended by this study.

Assessing the Effect of Federal Universities Academics and National Youth Service Corps Members on the Conduct of General Elections in Nigeria

This study examined issues that necessitated the use of federal universities academics and national youth service corps members in the conduct of general elections in Nigeria and discussed the credibility of election management with their involvement. It also interrogated the effectiveness and challenges of using them by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The study utilised primary data that was collected through semi-structured interviews with thirty respondents. Secondary data was sourced from periodicals, journals, election manuals, and electoral act of 2010 as amended. The data collected were analysed using content analysis. The study showed that the need to sanitize the electoral system informed the use of universities academics and national youth service corps members. The study also showed that the academics and national youth service corps members have facilitated the credibility of the electoral system and that the activities of desperate politicians who are driven by the lust for political power are some of the challenges faced in using university academics and national youth service corps members. It is suggested that the current use of universities academics and national youth service corps members in the conduct of future elections should be sustained.
 
 Received: 5 August 2021 / Accepted: 30 september 2021 / Published: 5 November 2021

INDEPENDENT NATIONAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION (INEC) AND THE PROCESS OF ELECTORAL CONDUCT IN NIGERIA: THE PHENOMENON OF ELECTION POSTPONEMENT AND ITS EFFECTS ON THE OUTCOME AND PERFORMANCE OF THE 2019 GENERAL ELECTION

This study investigates the effects of election postponement on the outcome and performance of the 2019 General Election, as well as practices of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Process of Electoral Conduct in Nigeria. The study adopts a case study design and utilizes a qualitative approach in which both primary and secondary data were collected/engaged. The data were analysed and interpreted, using thematic analytical process. The main findings reveal that postponement of general election in Nigeria is gradually becoming the norm and/or a re-occurrence practice. It was also found that the postponement did impact negatively on the outcome and performance of the same, arising from low voters’ turnout. Crucially, it also observes that the country suffered economic loss worth billions of Naira. The study suggests a fully funded and equipped INEC with all its needs and logistics provided and three months to a year period provided, before elections are conducted could be an important panacea.

Political party elite and election-related violence in Nigeria: The nexus and implications for democracy and governance

Failure to conduct violence-free elections in Nigeria has frequently reflected in the writings of local and foreign election observers and monitoring groups. Previous studies have devoted much attention to the consequences of electoral violence on sustenance and consolidation of democracy but less attention has been paid to the role political party elite play in this violence. This study examined the role of political party elite in election-related violence in Nigeria, 2011-2019. It equally assessed its nexus and implications for democracy and governance. The study utilized documentary research method using qualitative documentary analysis to analyze the data obtained from secondary sources following four-step approach. Findings revealed that political party elite exerted greater influence on politically-sponsored thugs, who were utilized to perpetrate election-related violence due to zerosum game, winners-takes-all syndrome, and non-punishment of electoral offenders with far-reaching implications for popular participation, free, fair and credible election, party politics, leadership legitimacy and stable polity. The study submitted that curbing party elite-sponsored electoral violence requires that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the National Assembly wake up to their responsibility of ensuring strict enforcement of laws for electoral offences as this would deter both sponsors and perpetrators from engaging in violence during election.

MAPPING AND SPATIAL ANALYSIS OF POLLING UNITS TO ENHANCE VOTING IN AKURE SOUTH, NIGERIA

Polling units are isolated places with significant structures established by the Independent National Electoral Commission in Nigeria to serve as registration centers and voting units. The study aimed at mapping and examining the spatial distribution of polling units to enhance the voting process in Akure South, Ondo State. Handheld-GPS map 76CSX was used in acquiring coordinates of the existing polling units. Queries were performed to examine the ownership of the polling unit premises and also determine polling units with over 500 registered voters. The result of the query shows that 276 out of the 302 polling units in the study area have over 500 voters. The distribution pattern of the polling units was determined using the average Nearest Neighbour Analysis. The result indicates clustered with Rn as 0.502292 and Z- value is -16.546600 less than 1. Geocoding was done to ease accessibility and navigation to polling units. A map depicting the polling units’ locations and landmarks was produced using ArcGIS 10.6, and it was revealed that some polling units allocated for the study area fall into surrounding Local Governments. It is worthy to note that the results of this study should be adopted, as it would efficiently enhance the voting process.

An Online Voting Platform for Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission

Elections in Nigeria has been plagued by vote buying, ballot box snatching, weak and independent(but dependent on the Executive) electoral management body, corruption and legitimacy crises as well as other forms of election malpractice, violence and irregularities. To curb the incidences of fraud, malpractice and the flagrant absence of transparency, this study introduces the concept of the design and implementation of an online voting platform (OVP) for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). This application implemented with Python, a powerful web programming language suggests an impartial, electronic and easily managed form of conducting gubernatorial elections (in one of the states) in Nigeria. The database was created using MySQL. The analyses and design of the web application involved some unified modeling diagrams (case, class). The web application promises to eradicate several weakness of the existing system such as slower vote counting, physical location for conducting the gubernatorial polls, inconsistencies and errors resulting from the manual tasks, costliness of the election and most especially delay/ time wastage.

Nigerian Civil Society Situation Room (NCSSR) and Electioneering Process in Nigeria (2015–2019)

Civil society organizations have played a pivotal role in democratization process in Nigeria since the advent of the Fourth Republic. They have greatly helped in the success of the 2015 and 2019 General Elections through pre-election, during election, and in post-election monitoring and advocacy. This article, therefore, examined the role of the Nigerian Civil Society Situation Room (NCSSR) in improving the election in Nigeria during the 2015 and 2019 General Elections. While many civil societies flourished recently in Nigeria, their role toward democratization and facilitating credible election remain insignificant until in the 2015 and 2019 General Elections where their activities helped immensely the process of a credible election. A Civil Society as the Third Tier of Government framework was adopted as a theoretical explanation of the context of the work. The research used a qualitative case study method of data collection where informants consisting of members of NCSSR, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and academicians were selected for the interview and Focus Group Discussion. The total number selected was 16 from the three identified categories. The research discovered that the NCSSR aided the process and fairness of the 2015 and 2019 General Elections through proper monitoring, civic voter education, active collaboration with electoral body (INEC), and collaboration with international donor agencies through what they called “Civil Society Situation Room” which consist of more than 60 registered civil societies. The research recommends that civil societies should be empowered with constitutional backing and independent funding to enable them carry out their responsibilities adequately. Also, the article recommends that the electoral body (INEC) should liaise more and cooperate with civil societies to enable them conduct good and credible elections in future.

Independent national electoral commission and the conduct of credible elections in Nigeria: A study of Osun state gubernatorial election in 2018

Independent national electoral commission and the conduct of credible elections in Nigeria: A study of Osun state gubernatorial election in 2018

THE 2019 GENERAL ELECTION AND THE POLITICS OF INCONCLUSIVE ELECTION IN NIGERIA: A REVIEW OF THE AFFECTED STATES

Elections are usually accompanied with controversies and irregularities in Nigeria emanating from several factors such as the procedures, regulations, nature of political culture and political gameplay in the country and elites’ attitudes towards power. The 2019 Gubernatorial election in Nigeria was enshrouded in controversies, malpractices and inconsistencies because of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) guidelines for the conduct of election which provided for inconclusive elections in some circumstances. This study examined critically some states in Nigeria that are affected by the politics of inconclusive elections where the elections were extended for additional two weeks due to some issues that could not allow for the final declaration after the first date of the election. The inconclusive election heralded several problems and a setback to election in Nigeria because of recorded violence, malpractices, rigging and other related obstacles. The research employed a qualitative methodology of data collection and analysis. Both primary and secondary sources were used for data collection. The primary sources involved an in-depth interview, participant observation and reference to INEC’s documented data. The secondary data used were books, journals, newspapers, internet sources and reports. The data collected were discussed using content analysis for analytical interpretations. The study discovered that the guideline for the conduct of the 2019 General Election which stipulated for the provision of inconclusive election created several inconclusive elections in some states like Adamawa, Bauchi, Benue, Kano, Plateau and Sokoto which later was followed by irregularities and violence. The work recommends among others that such criteria should be abandoned and declare any contestant that fulfill the minimum criteria as returned elected.

A Fuzzy-Based Multi-Modal Architectural Model for Electioneering in Nigeria

The 2015 election has been adjured to be the best in the history of elections in Nigeria, thanks to the deployment of information technology by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). In reality, the election was not as flawless as many people believe. There were lots of problems associated with it, particularly in the areas of verification and authentication of eligible voters. This work examines these problems and proposed a fuzzy-based multi-modal architectural model for future elections in contrast to the unimodal model currently in use. The architecture is based on the extraction of the features of fingerprint and iris of the prospective voters as opposed to only fingerprint currently in use. Drawing from the strength of fingerprint and Iris features discussed in the work, a robust architecture supported by the fuzzy-based mathematical model was developed for future elections. Further discussed were the advantages of the proposed architecture over the current INEC method of voter verification and authentication.

A Corpus-Based Critical Discourse Analysis of Pre-2019 General Elections Reports in Selected Nigerian Newspapers

Generally, language experts believe that there are inherent ideologies in language use. The aspect of discourse study that discloses such ideologies is known as Critical Discourse Study (CDA). This paper seeks to exhume the various inherent ideologies that presuppose selected news reports on the Nigeria’s 2019 General Elections in Nigerian newspapers. This study is, however, corpus-based. Scholars have established that discourse is a kind of constructively conditioned public exercise. They believe that power relations exist at different levels of daily social interaction; revealing superiority or inferiority of interlocutors involved. News reports relating to the General Elections were electronically collated from the various newspaper platforms for a sizable language corpus. The name Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was selected and analysed purposively with the aid of Digital Humanities (DH) tool to observe the frequency of the acronym INEC and the textual context in which it occurs in five newspapers’ reports about the electoral body via the authority it gives; the warning it issues, and the appeal it makes to the stakeholders. The paper finds out that the negative perceptions of many observers about the elections have actually been predicted by the various reports in the newspapers, prior to the elections. The paper concludes that reporters of news items do not account for issues concerning electoral body with the same constructive and destructive dispositions; and this gives room for subjectivity and prejudice.

When Is It Democratic to Postpone an Election? Elections During Natural Disasters, COVID-19, and Emergency Situations

Holding regular elections is an essential feature of democratic practices. The case for postponing elections is often made during emergency situations, however. Despite the critical nature of the i...

Gender, Political Participation and Representation: The Nigeria Story

Aims: This article aims to examines women's political participation and representation in Nigeria. The study employed the 2019s Nigeria general election data with an emphasis on the number of men and women candidates for various seats and posts.
 Study Design: The study implemented quantitative and qualitative research approach.
 Place and Duration of Study: The study was held in Nigeria between February and March 2019 within the duration of the General Elections (GE).
 Methodology: Data dwelled more on the secondary data from the Nigeria Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) such as Final List of Senatorial Candidates, Final List of Governorship Candidates, Final List of Presidential Candidates, Final List of State House of Assembly Candidates, and Final List of Candidates for House of Representatives followed by interviews.
 Results: The findings indicate that even though women in Nigeria are politically active, they are not considered equal to their men counterparts - a product of patriarchal inclination. Certainly, Nigerian society still subscribes to the senseless connotation of: ‘women’, what do they know? A common phrase employed even in an ordinary family conversation. Besides, women participants lack financial backup and social support for political positions.
 Conclusion: Women’s low proportion of political representation at the highest levels of politics is a persistent issue in gender stratification in Africa, but paramount in Nigeria. Despite advances in women’s educational level and economic participation, the findings in this study have shown that women in Nigeria have little or no significant progress with respect to political representation in the country’s political sphere.

The tragedy of the umpire: the electoral management body and Nigeria’s 2019 general elections

ABSTRACT This article analyses the challenges of election management in Nigeria as they relate to the integrity of the 2019 elections. As required of a true democracy, the independence of the Election Management Body (EMB) is a vital ingredient for credible elections. Although appearing independent in name, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) by its structure lacks sufficient independence from the political elite and competing groups. The dependent structure of the EMB makes the agency vulnerable to manipulation and this represents a major liability in the process of strengthening the quality of elections in Nigeria. This article argues that the problem concerning the structure of the INEC contributed to the controversial outcomes of the 2019 elections.

POLITICAL PARTIES AND NATIONAL INTEGRATION IN NIGERIA: A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

In a democratic environment, Political Parties are the fulcrum and focal instrument because it set the foundation or the platform for representation in government and politics of a people. As an institution that continuously seeks the control of state power and authority it then behoove on it to set the agenda of integration so as to synergize the strength of bonding for national achievement. However, this can only be achieved through its policy templates, true process of democratization and a more nationalistic outlook instead of sectionalism amidst others. Nigeria, as a country have been persistently challenged with the problem of achieving a common front due to the myriad of factors that continuously bifurcate every of its fiber or fabrics. Hence, this paper examines the role of political parties in achieving National integration in Nigeria. After using the primary and secondary sources of data collection analysis it was obvi-ous that political parties have continuously failed in integrating the society due to a strong hold on ethnic divides, corruption, unfulfilled promises, thuggery among other negative portraits. Thus, the paper recommends that political parties should reflect a national outlook instead of been primordial, therefore the independent national elec-toral commission should not register parties with parochial ideology more so, citizens should be encourage to massively participate in politics so as to enclose the possibility of election rigging.