A Stagnant or Retrogressive Democracy? Elections and Democracy in Nigeria, 1999–2019

Abstract

Many studies have highlighted that elections are a crucial element of democracy. This chapter analyses elections during Nigeria’s two decades of democracy (1999–2019) with the aim of evaluating the country’s progress in attaining democracy. Since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999, the country has witnessed six electoral cycles. However, persistent concerns about the quality of the elections have a significant impact on the consolidation of democracy. Twenty years after the democratic transition, elections are still marred by cases of electoral fraud, violence and litigation. These issues are not disconnected from the prevalent culture of the political elites whose attitudes are not pro-democracy. We argue that genuine reform that addresses the challenges associated with elections is a precondition for democratic development in Nigeria. This will require that the political elites support a culture of democracy and that election-related institutions are strengthened.