EISA

Facebook Linkedin
Call us on +27 11 381 6000
Menu
Menu
Menu

Nigeria

Home > Nigeria
2025 journal of african elections v24n1 eisa transparent democratic governance in africa

Fake News, Election-Related Disinformation Laws, and Citizen’s Rights in African Political Ecology

This article builds on innovative methodologies that social scientists employ to interrogate election-related disinformation. The paper analyses the roles of regulatory bodies, law enforcement agencies, and technology platforms in halting the spread of disinformation, stressing how these entities can protect the rights of citizens while ensuring the credibility and transparency of electoral processes. The Actor, Behaviour, Content, Degree, and Effect (ABCDE) framework is employed along with a systematic review of literature. The paper identifies key areas of knowledge that African researchers can prioritise in relation to content regulation, human rights protection, and the channels through which election-related disinformation is disseminated. A multi-sectoral and multi-stakeholder approach is proposed to combat disinformation. The article affirms that policies governing the digital sphere in Africa should be tailored to the continent’s unique contexts, constraints, and conditions so that African countries can benefit fully from the information age.

2025 journal of african elections v24n1 eisa transparent democratic governance in africa

Mechanism and Strategies of EU Democracy Promotion in Nigeria: An Analytical Overview

Research on international democracy promotion in Africa often emphasises the altruistic intent of the sender, who aims to improve the political landscape in recipient countries, while neglecting other underlying motivations or agendas. Regarding the relations between the European Union (EU) and Nigeria, a few studies have focused on the internal factors in Nigeria that necessitate EU support for democracy. There has also been little exploration of reasons why these external actions have largely failed. The lack of knowledge limits the effectiveness of promoting democracy. The paper presents a qualitative case study that investigates how the EU can promote democracy in Nigeria in ways that suit the local context. Content analysis indicates how the EU’s rhetoric on democracy promotion is clouded by other foreign policy interests, contributing to a fragile democratic environment in Nigeria. The EU’s promotion of democracy is often shaped by internal considerations and is subordinate to the EU’s own strategic interests, particularly regarding migration, economic stability, and geopolitical influence. This situation results in a selective strategy that favours cooperation over resource management instead of enforcing democratic principles. Recommendations are offered to improve the effectiveness of democracy promotion.

2025 journal of african elections v24n1 eisa transparent democratic governance in africa

For the Highest Bidder: The Dollarisation of Nigeria’s 2022 Presidential Primary Elections

This article examines the monetisation of the 2022 presidential primaries of the two major political parties in Nigeria, namely the APC and PDP. Data is drawn from key informant interviews and documented evidence from the conduct of the primary elections. The key informants were party executives and members who voted as delegates in the presidential primaries of these parties. Two delegates were selected from each geo-political zone of the country, giving a total of 12 key informants. The study is situated within the theoretical framework of electoral clientelism. The collection of primary data involved 14 months of intermittent and extensive field work, which was carried out from July 2022 to September 2023. The findings reveal that the leading contestants engaged in aggressive vote-buying by using vast amounts of dollars. In addition, a direct candidate selection method may have aided the vote-buying strategies of both parties. The article concludes that such disregard for the rules of the game in selecting candidates hinders the institutionalisation of internal party democracy and engenders clientelism and patronage. As argued by previous researchers, these practices largely determine who secures which elective post – and how.

2023 journal of african elections v23n1 eisa transparent democratic governance in africa

Democratic Deficit and Underdevelopment in Nigeria: A Qualitative Study of the 2023 Presidential Elections

Discontentment with democracy in West Africa centres on abuse of power and political corruption. In Nigeria, dissatisfaction lies not just with these but also with insecurity, economic recession and the electoral process – a system fraught with complications, controversies and contradictions. Using the political economy of elections as its theoretical framework together with mixed research methods, this paper interrogates the relationship between Nigeria’s democratic culture and the 2023 presidential elections. Here I present a politicised electoral management institution, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Its performance is shaped, not by legislative instruments and constitutional guidelines, but by a dysfunctional democratic culture that reflects the extent to which ethnicised politics, class, institutionalised loyalty and money politics determine election results and Nigeria’s version of democracy. Although fragile and prebendal, democracy continues to consolidate amidst delayed development. The paper recommends increased media advocacy for reform.

2023 journal of african elections v23n1 eisa transparent democratic governance in africa

Women’s Participation in Nigeria’s 2023 Elections: A Micro-level Analysis

This study investigates a micro-level dimension of women’s participation in Nigeria’s electoral politics. It focuses on a particular local government area: Ikere, in Ekiti state in southwestern Nigeria, during the 2023 general election. The paper uses a qualitative approach to analyse the contributions of women towards the successes of their political parties at the polls, although they have not had full opportunity to contest as candidates. Key informant and in-depth interviews were conducted with respondents who were purposively selected from the leadership of political parties, academia, market and religious institutions, as well as interested onlookers. Additionally, campaign and mobilisation processes were observed during the period of this election. The study concluded that the wait for cultural and socioeconomic development to turn in favour of women’s numerical increase might not offer any realistic hope. However, the adoption of discretionary affirmative action strategies by party leaders could have a reverse effect and also reinforce prejudice.

2023 journal of african elections v22n2 eisa transparent democratic governance in africa

Technology, Cyber Security and the 2023 Elections in Nigeria: Prospects, Challenges and Opportunities

Nigeria’s Electoral Act 2022 legitimises the use of technology in different aspects of the electoral process. The steady increase in technology adoption in the electoral process continued in 2023, after successful pilots in the Anambra, Ekiti, and Osun state elections. This article investigates how technology has been deployed to conduct elections in Nigeria, comparing it to other jurisdictions, notably Estonia. This study adopts a qualitative case study approach, synthesising expert views and reviews from the available literature, official documents, and press releases to produce emergent themes. The article considers the emerging legal, regulatory, and technical concerns from both a scholarly and industry perspective. The article also examines potential risks, such as reliability issues, cybersecurity concerns, gaps in technological capability, information governance and data protection concerns.

2023 journal of african elections v22n2 eisa transparent democratic governance in africa

Nigeria’s 2023 Presidential Elections: The Question of Legitimacy for the Tinubu Administration

This article raises concerns about the legitimacy crisis likely to confront the government of Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu, following the nature of the conduct and outcome of the 2023 presidential elections. While legitimacy is crucial to government and governance, citizens’ compliance and cooperation with the government, and how elections and their outcomes are perceived can influence the government’s legitimacy. The study reveals how INEC’S
conduct, Tinubu’s personality crisis and the burdens facing the ruling APC in a pluralistic society, as well as the emerging youth category, would affect Tinubu’s legitimacy as Nigeria’s president. The analysis relies on careful
observation of Nigerian politics and elections as well as the views expressed by experts, political parties, local and international observers and newspaper reports before, during and after the 2023 elections. It offers an empirical
contribution to our understanding of the relationship between elections and the legitimacy of Nigeria.

  • Menu