Comparative study of 2011 and 2015 presidential elections in. Elections in nigeria can be traced to as far back as the year 1923 when the country faced first general elections ever. Nigeria sheriff ghali ibrahim, abdullahi nuhu liman, kabir mato department of political science and international relations, university of abuja, abujanigeria abstract the paper examines the nature of political participation and voting behavior in nigerias 2015 general elections. The preindependence census figures were generated to perpetually rig elections in nigeria. Several electoral bodies have been set up after fec to conduct elections in nigeria. Here is a list of all the electoral commissions in. Summary of observations and recommendations 3 recommendations 4 ii. Since then, the nature of the democratic project has been the subject of debate in various circles. Nigeria is a famous country with more than one hundred and forty million population. Thus, electoral violence has proved to be nigerias harbinger of national instability as. The 1999 elections, which brought a retired general, olusegun. Nigeria has had a checkered electoral history with successive elections being marred by serious irregularities and controversy particularly in the conduct of its electoral commission.
For the first time in nigerias history, the same national electoral commission chairman prof. History of political parties in nigeria nigerian finder. Electoral violence was to rear its head again during nigeria. Introduction 6 the ndi election observation mission 6 the new government and the crisis of legitimacy 7 the nigerian elections in the regional context 8. Electoral administration and the consolidation of democracy. Permit me to cite these cases in an unchronological order. Nigeria is in the category where election management is less successful.
Governorship and state assembly elections were held on 14 april, while the presidential and national assembly elections were held a week later on 21 april. The following research questions form the basis of this study. The election follows controversy as to whether a muslim or christian should be allowed to become president given the tradition of rotating the top. Out of these five elections, the first four elections were, expectedly, won by the peoples democratic party pdp, which, during this. Geographical, historical and political profiles of nigeria 1. However, the implication of nigerias electoral history for the enthronement of a democratic order is yet to be exhaustively explored. Although the nigeria general election which was held in 2011 was relatively peaceful, however, it was also marked with some irregularities. The history of the electoral commissions bodies in nigeria can be traced back to the establishment of the first postindependence electoral commission in nigeria, the federal electoral commission fec, in 1960. The study is limited to participation in the 1999 and 2003 nigerian elections due to lack of time in gathering materials. Political leadership and corruption in nigeria since 1960.
Like you said, it provoked the forming of the first political party in nigeria by herbert macaulay. Journal of nigeria studies volume 1, number 1, fall 2010. General elections held in february 1999 marked the end of 15 years of military rule and the beginning of civilian rule based on a multiparty democracy. Electoral politics in the fourth republic of nigerias. This paper is a contribution to the debate on democratization and development in nigeria.
Not many people know about the first general election in nigeria that happened 96 years ago. Accordingly, democracy in nigeria cannot be consolidated amidst high level. A presidential election was held in nigeria on 16 april 2011, postponed from 9 april 2011. I agree with you debbie, the clifford constitution mark the beginning of elections and the elections of representatives in nigeria. General studies directorate abubakar tafawa balewa university, bauchi, nigeria email. Nigeria is a federal republic with a presidential system. However, for elections to be termed democratic, it must be free and fair. The constitution provides for a separation of powers among the three branches of government. Full details about the electoral commissions in nigeria. Violence has continued to mar the conduct of almost all general elections, making free and fair elections a desideratum. Fortyone of the on july 19, 2011, the international peace institute ipi hosted a roundtable discussion on elections. Nigeria has a rich history of political affairs that changed the direction of the country.
This is a particularly important moment in africas history. The elections will be conducted by nigerias election management body, the independent national electoral commission inec. Toyin falola, a leading historian intimately acquainted. Methodologically, data for this paper were generated mainly from secondary sources of recorded human documents. Nigeria is said to be a british creation by uniting the various nationalities into a single country today known as the federal republic of nigeria.
Then came the 1993 elections in history of elections in nigeria, the l99 elections is seen as the most free and fair elections ever conducted in nigeria general ibrahim babangida, who overthrew the general buharis government, organized an inconclusive transition that was perceived in some quarters to deny a yoruba, chief m. Lukman that nigeria badly needed a leadership that can rescue the country from the depth of chronic indiscipline, disorder. Nigerias electoral politics from independence has been tumultuous. History of political parties in nigeria will never be complete if mention is not made of the various political bigwigs in the history of this country.
Pdf the electoral process and democratic consolidation. The presidential election is won by olusegun obasanjo, by now a civilian but for three years from 1976 the military ruler of the country and therefore widely assumed to be the armys preferred candidate. The theoretical framework for the study is cultural relativism. According to preliminary results of the 2006 census and subsequent estimates, the most populous cities in nigeria are lagos about 8 million, kano 3. Elections in nigeria continue to elicit more than casual interest by nigerian scholars due to the fact that despite the appreciation that only credible election can consolidate and sustain the countrys nascent democracy, over the years, nigeria continues to witness with growing disappointments and apprehension inability to conduct. Western or formal education was started in nigeria in 1842 only at the primary level by the christian missionaries who managed the educational system according to their respective philosophies.
The first set of political parties to be formed in nigeria was formed. History of general elections in nigeria from 1999 till. Relating presidential election to national censusopinion. Electoral violence and the survival of democracy in nigeria.
Comparison is made between the 1999 elections, organized by the civilian government and the 2003 elections, done under the military government. Virtually every nigerian politician worthy of the name had openly averred that rigging is the only. Geographical, historical and political profiles of nigeria. Final ndi report on nigerias 2007 elections table of contents i. Nigerias political culture such that virtually all elections held so far in the country are violentridden ojo, 2014. How we measure reads a read is counted each time someone views a publication summary such as the title. Jan 15, 2017 i agree with you debbie, the clifford constitution mark the beginning of elections and the elections of representatives in nigeria. Voters elected the president and members to the house of representatives and the senate. Nigeria s election below the minimum democracy standard. Abuja has been the capital of nigeria since december 12, 1991. Leducation traditionnelle au nigeria, leducation musulmane.
However, the implication of nigeria s electoral history for the enthronement of a democratic order is yet to be exhaustively explored. Additionally, countries with a history of electoral violence often experience a recurrence of such violence, as has been witnessed in kenya, nigeria, and zimbabwe. However, in 1999, nigeria made a transition to civilian rule. An analysis grace malachi brown, phd department of history and diplomatic studies faculty of humanities rivers state university of education pmb 5047, rumuolumeni port harcourt, rivers state nigeria. This has led in some cases to the collapsed of democratic experiments as occurred in 1966 and 1983. Therefore, this paper examines democratic consolidation and challenges of legislative politics in nigeria from 19992011. Parliamentary elections were held in nigeria on 12 december 1959. Nigerias military ruled the country for nearly 30 of 40 yrs of independence.
History of electoral violence in nigeria notable cases 1. A parliamentary election was held in nigeria on 9 april 2011. This thesis is focused on participation in nigerian elections. Abiola the supposed winner to emerge as a president by the. A brief history of general elections in nigeria 1999 to 2019 since 1999, when chief olusegun obasanjo became the first substantive democraticallyelected president, there have been five general elections. Constitutional and political development in nigeria part ii. Journal of nigeria studies volume 1, number 2, fall 2012 political leadership and corruption in nigeria since 1960. The end of second republic the civilian government of alhaji shehu shagari was overthrown by the army on 31 december, 1983 to the great relief of many nigerians and a military government headed by. The worldwide outcry at sarowiwas death, without any pretence of a fair trial, prompts nigerias generals to offer new elections in 1999. Nigeria unveiled, which painted the picture of nigerias econo. In view of this, the thrust of this paper is a reflection on the tides of electoral violence and the attendant precipitating factors that make free and fair election pretty difficult in nigeria. General elections were held in nigeria on 28 and 29 march 2015, the fifth quadrennial election to be held since the end of military rule in 1999.
Nigerias present democratization, which culminated in the countrys fourth republic on may 29, 1999, started amidst great hope and expectations. He noted that, with the exception of the general elections held in december 1976. The high level of success of nigerias 2015 general elections was unexpected, considering the difficult political and security environment in which the elections were conducted. However, a further question would be whether nigerias political system has grown at all since then. The elections have dispelled quite a number of longheld myths about nigeria in terms of their outcome. The rules guiding elections are ambiguous, ever changing or easily maneuvered. Aside discussing the political parties in nigeria, this write up will equally discuss about the political history of nigeria. Perhaps because of the experience i personally had in 2011 about electoral violence which i still share some sentiments with. Theoretical perspective 79 languages, customs and traditions gives the country a rich cultural diversity. Ahistoryofnigeria nigeria is africas most populous country and the worlds eighth largest oil producer, but its success has been undermined in recent decades by ethnic and religious con.
Introduction nigeria and nigerians have been caught in the frenzy of centenary celebration. Nigeria was scheduled for independence from britain in 1960, and three main political parties ran in the preparatory elections in 1959. Ahistoryofnigeria assets cambridge university press. Electoral reforms and democratic stability in nigeria. Umaru yaradua won the highly controversial election for the ruling peoples democratic party pdp and was sworn in on 29 may. The election was originally scheduled to be held on 2 april, but was later postponed to 4 april. Republic of nigeria presidential election of 27 february 1999 source.
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