Legal Measures for Combating Electoral Malpractices in Nigeria

Abstract

This paper interrogates the role of the law in curbing electoral
malpractices in Nigeria. In Nigeria, the electoral process dates back
to 1923, after elective principle was introduced under the the
Clifford Constitution of 1922. Ever since, electoral malpractices
have manifested in many ways in Nigeria’s electoral process.
Electoral malpractices manifests in many ways such as multiple
and under-aged registration in the voter’s register, bribing of
electoral officers, intimidation of voters, vote merchandising,
falsification of election result, creation of illegal polling unit,
snatching of ballot materials, stuffing of ballot boxes and
declaration of a loser as a winner among other infractions. Electoral
malpractices have produced governments with questionable
legitimacy as they are not a product of popular will of the electorate.
This has resulted in apathy among the electorate as perpetrators of
electoral malpractices are not prosecuted. The paper recommends,
among other things, transparent and competitive process in the
recruitment of electoral officers to superintend elections in Nigeria.