Electoral Politics in the Fourth Republic of Nigeria's Democratic Governance

Abstract

Electoral politics remains one of the leading notable sources of conflict, political breakdown and social disequilibrium in the Fourth Republic of Nigeria’s democracy. Despite the appreciation that only credible election can consolidate and sustain Nigeria’s nascent democracy, its electoral process often result to confrontations that continue to threaten the political stability, peace and the very existence of the nation. While intellectual discourse have focused essentially on the mutually reinforcing questions of political violence and electoral fraud, less attention is given to the role of security agencies in achieving credible election. This study generated both primary and secondary data. Questionnaires were administered among 1200 respondents in Lagos, Ogun and Oyo States, Nigeria. Findings revealed that it is how the Nigeria Police perform their roles of electoral security that needs attention and not the issue of whether these roles are being executed. It is therefore concluded that any electoral reforms in Nigeria that excludes reformation of the security agencies is an incomplete exercise.

Keywords: Election, Democracy, Security agency, Nigeria