The Role of the Civil Society in Promoting Credible Elections in Nigeria: Lessons from the 2015 General Elections


Authors : Ayuba Gimba Mavalla, ADENUGA, GbekeAdebowale.

Volume/Issue : Volume 3 - 2018, Issue 9 - September

Google Scholar : https://goo.gl/DF9R4u

Scribd : https://goo.gl/TFcd7J

Thomson Reuters ResearcherID : https://goo.gl/3bkzwv

Abstract : This paper examined the roles the civil society played in ensuring the success of the 2015 general elections in Nigeria. The paper employed qualitative research method hinged on obtaining information from secondary sources including: Books, scholarly articles and newspaper reports. The research averred that general elections in Nigeria had always resulted into violent conflict, the consequences of which had resulted to the terminations of the first two republics in Nigeria. The elections held in the fourth republic preceding the 2015 general elections also toed the lines of the elections in the earlier republics as they were also largely characterized by different forms of electoral violent conflicts. However, the roles played by the civil society before, during and after the 2015 general elections and the then incumbent President Good luck Jonathan’s magnanimity to gracefully consent to defeat contributed immensely to the smooth transfer of power, the very first of its kind in Nigeria. The study advocated that future elections should build on the successes recorded in the 2015 general elections. Inter alia, the study recommended that the civil society in Nigeria should be further strengthened to participate more effectively in future elections in order to ensure democratic consolidation in the country.

Keywords : civil society, elections, fourth republic, democratic consolidation.

This paper examined the roles the civil society played in ensuring the success of the 2015 general elections in Nigeria. The paper employed qualitative research method hinged on obtaining information from secondary sources including: Books, scholarly articles and newspaper reports. The research averred that general elections in Nigeria had always resulted into violent conflict, the consequences of which had resulted to the terminations of the first two republics in Nigeria. The elections held in the fourth republic preceding the 2015 general elections also toed the lines of the elections in the earlier republics as they were also largely characterized by different forms of electoral violent conflicts. However, the roles played by the civil society before, during and after the 2015 general elections and the then incumbent President Good luck Jonathan’s magnanimity to gracefully consent to defeat contributed immensely to the smooth transfer of power, the very first of its kind in Nigeria. The study advocated that future elections should build on the successes recorded in the 2015 general elections. Inter alia, the study recommended that the civil society in Nigeria should be further strengthened to participate more effectively in future elections in order to ensure democratic consolidation in the country.

Keywords : civil society, elections, fourth republic, democratic consolidation.

Never miss an update from Papermashup

Get notified about the latest tutorials and downloads.

Subscribe by Email

Get alerts directly into your inbox after each post and stay updated.
Subscribe
OR

Subscribe by RSS

Add our RSS to your feedreader to get regular updates from us.
Subscribe