OVERCOMING ELECTORAL CHALLENGES IN NIGERIA: A CASE STUDY OF 2023 GENERAL ELECTIONS AND THE ROLE OF INEC

Abstract

This paper aims at examining some of the challenges confronting peaceful elections in Nigeria, using the 2023 general elections conducted by INEC as a case study. Several presidential and general elections have been held over the years in Africa. Some countries such as Angola, Kenya, Senegal etc. succeeded in conducting free and fair elections, whereas, countries such as DR Congo and Nigeria still resulted in widespread rigging and violence despite several strategies put in place to ensure credible elections. In fact, of 20 armed conflicts worldwide mapped by Global Conflict Barometer in 2021, three were in DR Congo and three in Nigeria. Elections in Nigeria have been characterized by massive violence, rigging, snatching and burning of ballot papers, vote buying and killings. These electoral challenges have for years prevented Nigeria from holding free and fair elections. The Independent National Electoral Commission reported attacks on at least 53 of its offices across the country before the 2023 elections and the violence is still ongoing. However, this paper tends to critically examine these challenges hindering peaceful elections to unravel the causes and at the same time proffer remedy for overcoming these challenges for transparent and credible elections in Nigeria. Employing the method of critical analysis, this paper submits that politicians, citizens, INEC, judiciary and the government must take responsibility for ensuring that the polls are conducted successfully. The politicians should also adopt the strategies those countries like Senegal, Angola and Kenya used during their elections that enabled them to win.