Preparations of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Outcome of the 2023 General Elections in Nigeria

While many scholarly works have been dedicated to the study of elections
in Nigeria, the preparations for and outcome of the 2023 elections have
not received adequate attention. This article seeks to address that gap with
an assessment of the preparations of the Independent National Electoral
Commission (INEC) and the outcome of the 2023 general elections. Despite
earlier concerns about the conduct of Nigeria’s 2023 general elections,
assurances from the electoral umpire calmed this anxiety and raised some
hopes. However, the outcome of the election betrayed the hopes of not only
most of the electorate but also local and international observers. The article
argues that the outcome should not be a surprise because of the failure to
reckon with endemic problems. These include the nature of Nigeria’s politics,
its elite, a lack of political will, lack of rule of law and constitutionalism,
unpopular government policies, and a distrust of the system, particularly
INEC and the judiciary.

File Type: pdf
Categories: Journal of African Elections
Tags: electoral malpractice, electoral reforms, INEC, Nigeria, technology
2023 journal of african elections v22n2 eisa transparent democratic governance in africa