The Limiting Effects of Inconclusive Gubernatorial Elections towards the Democratic Consolidation of the Nigerian State

What is it about?

Inconclusive (delayed) elections are fairly a common phenomenon in the practice of representative democracy. In Nigeria, however, they are sometimes allowed to happen and sometimes stage-managed to serve the premeditated interests of power centres. Thus, this study inserted on the debate on inconclusive elections by investigating the limiting effects of inconclusive gubernatorial elections (IGEs) on democratic consolidation in Nigeria. The study argued that the Nigerian leaders learned during colonisation and inherited during decolonisation the warped conception of politics as a means of personal enrichment against the service-driven notion of politics. Since the state activities revolve around its power and power is popularly acquired through elections, the election period in Nigeria becomes contentious and controversial or destructive and divisive with its undermining effects on democratic consolidation. The research follows a documentary approach and leverages the information explosion that characterises contemporary times. The systematic examination of the literature shows that the duo of electoral practice and violence drives the IGEs and undermines electoral credibility and voter participation (indicating democratic consolidation) in Nigeria. The findings suggest the imperative for immediate comprehensive electoral rectification that will produce leaders with innocreative ideas and merits for good governance in Nigeria as self-serving leaders are disasters to any nation

Featured Image