PREPARED BY KHADIJAH SANUSI GUMBI DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE

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Presentation transcript:

ELECTIONS IN AFRICA AND THE LEGITIMACY OF DEMOCRATIC REGIMES: A NIGERIAN SCENERIO PREPARED BY KHADIJAH SANUSI GUMBI DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY ZARIA, NIGERIA gadee2001@yahoo.com Kgsanusi@abu.edu.ng

INTRODUCTION This presentation argues that lack of free, fair and credible election erodes the legitimacy of civil or democratic regimes in Africa with a specific focus on Nigeria. According to Holsti in 1996, two levels of legitimacy exist- horizontal and vertical. vertical deals with an agreeable framework based on 'RIGHT TO RULE ' while horizontal is based on the question of which community of people should be under such 'RULE ‘ In many parts of Africa the question of legitimacy has often threatened political stability, states in Africa therefore resort to authoritarian methods to repress dissenting forces.

CONCEPTUAL CLARIFICATION Elections are the mechanisms through which a democratic government can be realized and entrenched. In simple terms, a legitimate democratic regime is the one that has engaged and successfully conducted a credible, free and fair election.

LINK BETWEEN DEMOCRACY AND ELECTIONS It is only through electoral process that representative democracy can be practiced. Any problem associated with electoral process has direct impact on democratic institutions. The hallmark of liberal democratic theory is that elections have become an indispensable indicator of the progress of democracy across the globe.

DEMOCRACY implies a political system that meets three basic conditions: Meaningful and extensive competition among individuals or groups A highly inclusive level of political participation in the selection(through electoral process) of leaders and policy makers A level of civil and political liberties sufficient to ensure the integrity of political participation

OVERVIEW OF THE PROBLEMS OF ELECTIONS IN AFRICA Poverty Weak institutions Ethnicity and corruption Absence of rule of law As a result of the problems above, most African elections are neither free, fair nor credible.

HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ELECTIONS IN NIGERIA elections in Nigeria since independence have always resulted in controversies and crisis. this has been blamed mostly on the structure of the election management bodies established for the purpose of administering electoral process. e.g. funding and appointment of officials of the body.

ELECTION MANAGEMENT BODIES SINCE INDEPENDENCE ECN- Electoral commission of Nigeria- 1959 FEC- Federal Electoral Commission- 1964 FEDECO- Federal Electoral commission- 1978 NEC- National Electoral Commission- 1987 NECON- National Electoral Commission of Nigeria-1994 INEC- Independent National Electoral Commission-1998

CLASSIFICATION OF ELECTIONS IN NIGERIA TRANSITIONAL CONSOLIDATORY These elections were organized by the military e.g. 1978,1992,1998 The 1992/93 election was annulled. These elections were organized by the incumbent civilian government e.g. 1964,1983, 2003, 2007, 2011 However, military transitions tended to witness less electoral violence. The only recorded military transition violence was the June 12 1993.

CHALLENGES OF ELECTIONS IN NIGERIA A review of history of elections in Nigeria shows strong relationship between election management bodies, the government and security agents. This gives the government the opportunity to manipulate the conduct of elections. Electoral bodies operate like parastatals of the executive, the party in power influences and control their performance and functions. Despite the existence of election management bodies, most elections ended up with fundamental problems arising from ethnic sentiments and violence.

FINDINGS Incumbency Violence Electorates There is evidence of incumbent government influencing the electoral processes in Nigeria. Significant loss of lives and properties are recorded at the end of every election since the First Republic (1963-66). There always exists some level of non- acceptance of electoral outcomes in Nigeria due to relative dissatisfaction amongst the electorates.

CONCLUSION This presentation shows that, failure of elections largely defined the predominance of incumbency with absence of legitimacy in Nigeria and Africa as a whole.