Nigeria s election below the minimum democracy standard. This has led in some cases to the collapsed of democratic experiments as occurred in 1966 and 1983. The theoretical framework for the study is cultural relativism. Aside discussing the political parties in nigeria, this write up will equally discuss about the political history of 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. Umaru yaradua won the highly controversial election for the ruling peoples democratic party pdp and was sworn in on 29 may. Fortyone of the on july 19, 2011, the international peace institute ipi hosted a roundtable discussion on elections. Accordingly, democracy in nigeria cannot be consolidated amidst high level. 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. Out of these five elections, the first four elections were, expectedly, won by the peoples democratic party pdp, which, during this. Not many people know about the first general election in nigeria that happened 96 years ago. 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. 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. 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.
History of general elections in nigeria from 1999 till. This paper is a contribution to the debate on democratization and development in nigeria. The following research questions form the basis of this study. Nigerias present democratization, which culminated in the countrys fourth republic on may 29, 1999, started amidst great hope and expectations. The preindependence census figures were generated to perpetually rig elections in nigeria. 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. Voters elected the president and members to the house of representatives and the senate. 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. Republic of nigeria presidential election of 27 february 1999 source. Methodologically, data for this paper were generated mainly from secondary sources of recorded human documents. 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. Here is a list of all the electoral commissions in.
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. Electoral administration and the consolidation of democracy. Nigerias electoral politics from independence has been tumultuous. This thesis is focused on participation in nigerian elections. I agree with you debbie, the clifford constitution mark the beginning of elections and the elections of representatives in nigeria. 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.
Lukman that nigeria badly needed a leadership that can rescue the country from the depth of chronic indiscipline, disorder. Geographical, historical and political profiles of nigeria 1. History of political parties in nigeria nigerian finder. Perhaps because of the experience i personally had in 2011 about electoral violence which i still share some sentiments with. 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.
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 studies directorate abubakar tafawa balewa university, bauchi, nigeria email. Toyin falola, a leading historian intimately acquainted. Additionally, countries with a history of electoral violence often experience a recurrence of such violence, as has been witnessed in kenya, nigeria, and zimbabwe. Electoral politics in the fourth republic of nigerias. Several electoral bodies have been set up after fec to conduct elections in nigeria. 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. Theoretical perspective 79 languages, customs and traditions gives the country a rich cultural diversity. Final ndi report on nigerias 2007 elections table of contents i. Parliamentary elections were held in nigeria on 12 december 1959.
The elections will be conducted by nigerias election management body, the independent national electoral commission inec. The elections have dispelled quite a number of longheld myths about nigeria in terms of their outcome. The study is limited to participation in the 1999 and 2003 nigerian elections due to lack of time in gathering materials. A parliamentary election was held in nigeria on 9 april 2011. Electoral violence and the survival of democracy in nigeria. Nigerias political culture such that virtually all elections held so far in the country are violentridden ojo, 2014. Political leadership and corruption in nigeria since 1960.
Virtually every nigerian politician worthy of the name had openly averred that rigging is the only. Summary of observations and recommendations 3 recommendations 4 ii. Journal of nigeria studies volume 1, number 2, fall 2012 political leadership and corruption in nigeria since 1960. Introduction nigeria and nigerians have been caught in the frenzy of centenary celebration. 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. Since then, the nature of the democratic project has been the subject of debate in various circles. Comparison is made between the 1999 elections, organized by the civilian government and the 2003 elections, done under the military government. Relating presidential election to national censusopinion.
Nigeria unveiled, which painted the picture of nigerias econo. Nigeria is in the category where election management is less successful. Abuja has been the capital of nigeria since december 12, 1991. He noted that, with the exception of the general elections held in december 1976. According to preliminary results of the 2006 census and subsequent estimates, the most populous cities in nigeria are lagos about 8 million, kano 3. 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.
The worldwide outcry at sarowiwas death, without any pretence of a fair trial, prompts nigerias generals to offer new elections in 1999. Although the nigeria general election which was held in 2011 was relatively peaceful, however, it was also marked with some irregularities. Elections in nigeria can be traced to as far back as the year 1923 when the country faced first general elections ever. Ahistoryofnigeria assets cambridge university press. However, a further question would be whether nigerias political system has grown at all since then. The 1999 elections, which brought a retired general, olusegun. Violence has continued to mar the conduct of almost all general elections, making free and fair elections a desideratum. Geographical, historical and political profiles of nigeria. These political tensions, overlaid atop simmering communal and ethnoreligious violence in parts of nigeria, and alongside boko haram efforts to foment further instability, have raised concerns about the countrys trajectory in the coming months. Electoral reforms and democratic stability in nigeria. Electoral violence was to rear its head again during nigeria. However, the implication of nigerias electoral history for the enthronement of a democratic order is yet to be exhaustively explored. Comparative study of 2011 and 2015 presidential elections in. Jan 15, 2017 i agree with you debbie, the clifford constitution mark the beginning of elections and the elections of representatives in nigeria.
However, in 1999, nigeria made a transition to civilian rule. The constitution provides for a separation of powers among the three branches of government. However, the implication of nigeria s electoral history for the enthronement of a democratic order is yet to be exhaustively explored. According to inec, nigerias electoral body, 68, 833, 476 nigerians will be eligible to vote in the 2015 general elections this day, 2015 from proposal. The consequences of these crises largely contributed to the rude termination of nigeria. However, for elections to be termed democratic, it must be free and fair. The election follows controversy as to whether a muslim or christian should be allowed to become president given the tradition of rotating the top.
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. Nigeria has a rich history of political affairs that changed the direction of the country. Full details about the electoral commissions in nigeria. As the 2015 election cycle heats up, let us reflect on one of its key institutions. Abiola the supposed winner to emerge as a president by the. For the first time in nigerias history, the same national electoral commission chairman prof. Pdf the electoral process and democratic consolidation. History of electoral violence in nigeria notable cases 1. How we measure reads a read is counted each time someone views a publication summary such as the title. The rules guiding elections are ambiguous, ever changing or easily maneuvered. The first set of political parties to be formed in nigeria was formed.
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. Thus, electoral violence has proved to be nigerias harbinger of national instability as. A presidential election was held in nigeria on 16 april 2011, postponed from 9 april 2011. Constitutional and political development in nigeria part ii. The election was originally scheduled to be held on 2 april, but was later postponed to 4 april. 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.
Nigeria was scheduled for independence from britain in 1960, and three main political parties ran in the preparatory elections in 1959. This is a particularly important moment in africas history. Leducation traditionnelle au nigeria, leducation musulmane. Permit me to cite these cases in an unchronological order.
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