PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS IN NIGERIA: SELECTION OR ELECTION

Abstract

Elections and institutions that carry out electoral processes are not only central to the entire democratic system, but also attract significant attention because they facilitate the process of legitimizing leadership. This they do through voting processes and through also facilitating the systematic acquisition and transfer of political power. This chapter focuses on the presidential elections and its transparency in making it more of an election than of a chosing. Ordinary Nigerians’ experience with government since independence in 1960 has by and large been characterized by corruption, violence and abuse. This was especially true under the succession of military dictators that ruled Nigeria for 30 of its first 39 years of independence. The era of political parties taking people for granted is gone. Nigerians are very conscious of their rights; they know with their votes is they can install or remove government that failed to perform. This article therefore recommends that in order for the electoral system to be free and fair, there is need for government to place priority on education through free and compulsory education, Avoid inflammatory rhetoric, publicly denounce violence, pledge to respect rules, in particular the Code of Conduct for Political Parties, and pursue grievances through lawful channels, it also indicate that the sovereign power belongs to the people.