Inconclusive Gubernatorial Elections and Democratic Consolidation in Nigeria

Academic Paper from the year 2023 in the subject Politics - Region: Africa, University of Nigeria, language: English, abstract: This study investigates how irregularity-ridden inconclusive gubernatorial elections (IGEs) undermined the practice of democracy within the context of Nigeria. It contends that Nigerian leaders primarily seek power for their lots against the service-driven notion of politics. They achieve this by controlling major electoral institutions and ensuring their unending 'tomic' autonomy. Data are collected using a documentary method and analysed using content analysis.

The analysis reveals that the IGEs have become a new tool for election manipulation in Nigeria against the democratic principle of free choice. It further reveals that the perceived benefits associated with public offices heighten the unbridled quest for power in Nigeria, which suggests the need for bottom-up (voter-driven) electoral reform, in which the consideration of margin of lead should be based on voters with permanent voter cards/voter turnout as against the prevailing shady registered voters.