History of elections in nigeria pdf merge

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. After the british government assumed direct control of the royal niger companys territories, the northern areas were renamed the protectorate of northern nigeria, and the land in the niger delta and along the lower reaches of the river was added to the niger coast protectorate, which was renamed the protectorate of southern nigeria. However, for elections to be termed democratic, it must be free and fair. Throughout the electioneering period, religious and ethnic affiliations did not influence voting patterns of nigerians. Nigerians elects on the federal level a head of state the president of nigeria and a legislature the national assembly. Additionally, countries with a history of electoral violence often experience a recurrence of such violence, as has been witnessed in kenya, nigeria, and zimbabwe. Administration, history, philosophy, arts, education, linguistics, and cultural studies.

Nigerian presidential elections delegation and staff list. This is a particularly important moment in africas history. Pdf the nigerian 2015 general election is one of the elections in the. Indeed, the political climate during the colonial period was akin to south africa. Party, merger, democracy, consolidation, election, nigeria. Nigerias 2019 elections united states institute of peace. Nigeria presidential and national assembly elections the. As the current secretariat for the nigeria civil society situation room, policy and legal advocacy centre plac has worked closely with. The history of nigerian elections appears to reflect the above. Within this volume is the complete reproduction of the legal framework governing elections in nigeria. Commission inec to guide the 2019 general elections in nigeria. History of general elections in nigeria from 1999 till. Then came the 1993 elections in history of elections in nigeria, the l99 elections is seen as the most free and fair elections ever conducted in nigeria general ibrahim babangida, who overthrew the general buharis government, organized an inconclusive transition that was perceived in some quarters to deny a yoruba, chief m. As nigeria celebrates its fiftieth anniversary, it is an apt time to consider its democratic development.

Pdf an overview of 2015 general elections in nigeria. Nigeria has a rich history of political affairs that changed the direction of the country. Like most other former colonies, zimbabwe, at independence, inherited a racially determined socioeconomic system. Nigeria borders niger in the north, chad in the northeast, cameroon in the east, and benin in the west. June 12, 1993 election widely believed to have been won by mko abiola remains the freest and fairest election in nigeria s history.

Nigeria s election below the minimum democracy standard. From a minimalist perspective, elections are the first and most basic indicator of democracy. A short history of restructuring in nigeria, by tope fasua. Not many people know about the first general election in nigeria that happened 96 years ago. Elections and democratic transition in nigeria under the. Elections in nigeria can be traced to as far back as the year 1923 when the country faced first general elections ever. The rules guiding elections are ambiguous, ever changing or easily maneuvered. Manual for election officials 2019, framework for voting by. Religious council, represent just one wellknown example of faith leaders joining forces to.

Nigerias history of electoral violence is, for many, an unfortunately accepted. Niger is to the north of nigeria while the northeast of nigeria is bordered by lake chad. Trends in electoral violence in nigeria, rasak bamidele2. Breaking the cycle of electoral violence in nigeria. Abiola the supposed winner to emerge as a president by the. Electoral commission inec of nigeria, political parties, the media and civil society. 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. The senate has 109 members, elected for a fouryear term. Paul lubeck, professor, sociology and history, university of california at santa cruz, usa. Right from the preindependence era, elections in nigeria have been.

Nigeria contains more historic cultures and empires than any other other nation in africa. The 2007 elections were expected to mark a historical milestone for. In nigeria, however, elections have been one of the main problems of the democratization process. Throughout the long years of colonial and military rule in nigeria, democratic aspira tion has been a.

Nigerias 2011 polls will mark the fourth multiparty election in nigeria and, if a power. Out of these five elections, the first four elections were, expectedly, won by the peoples democratic party pdp, which, during this. They date back as far as the 5th century bc, when communities living around the southern slopes of the jos plateau make wonderfully expressive terracotta figures in a tradition known now as the nok culture, from the nigerian village where these. Pdf the attention of the global community will be on nigeria because it is. A short history of restructuring in nigeria, by tope. In 20, bola ahmed tinubus action congress merged with muhammudu. We also need to be careful, as most of our databases. Fortyone of the on july 19, 2011, the international peace institute ipi hosted a roundtable discussion on elections. The coast of the nation in the south lies along the gulf of guinea. Nigeria is in the category where election management is less successful. Its southern coast is on the gulf of guinea in the atlantic ocean.