A critical assessment of electoral processes in the fourth republic’s (1999-2015) democratic dispensation in Nigeria

Abstract

This study examines factors underlying the poor electoral processes and the increasing rate of voters’ apathy towards democratic participation (1999-2015) in Nigeria. Electoral processes are a determining factor in democratic advancement; they either encourage or discourage majority participation. Both participatory and institutional theories provide theoretical frameworks. In this paper, issues of electoral processes were critically examined using secondary sources of data, and at the end of the study, ways to improve on the quest for ideal democracy were provided. The paper argues that poor electoral processes have made a mockery of Nigeria’s democratic system. Electoral and political institutions’ lack of transparency, inadequate funding, poor voters’ registration process, inadequate voter education and poor election scheduling are the shortcomings identified. There is a need for more polling booths, effective voter education and simultaneous accreditation and voting in order to bring sanity to the electoral process.