CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study
The intrinsic connection between the effective conduct of free, fair, credible and acceptable elections and the institutionalization and consolidation of democracy in a country is commonly acknowledged. This occurs from the idea that in a democracy, the duty of individuals is to create a government, and elections are the institutional structures/plans for arriving at political decisions where people are vested with the power to decide by means of competitive struggle for the people's votes. Elections are therefore usually viewed as a procedure for regulatory competition for political power with competition for votes. For that reason, elections are the basic foundation of democracy (Report of the electoral reform committee, 2008). The electoral system of any given nation plays an essential function in maintaining and moulding the political behavior of its people (Okolo, 2000). The method and way elections are carried out in a nation goes a long way to identify the degree of political culture, political involvement and good governance in that nation. These assertions provide a hint to the significance of a credible and transparent electoral system in a nation.
It has been established that the very best method for the emergence of political leadership in contemporary world is via the electoral process. Many nations are continuously improving and/or reforming their electoral processes to ensure the emergence of the right kind of political leadership. In Nigeria, the process of reforming the electoral process has been a reoccurring one. Since the return of democracy in 1999, which introduced the fourth republic after several years of military rule, the electoral legislation guiding the conduct of elections has been amended virtually after every election leading to the enactment of the 2001, 2006 and 2010 electoral acts and the most recent one in 2022 (electoral reform). There are a lot of obstacles with the conduct of elections in Nigeria from the 1999 election to the 2023 general elections (Abdulahi, et.al., 2016; Akpan, 2017). Another factor that has been recorded is that, elections in Nigeria are continuous tales of violence, fraud and negative blood. The obstacles include to name a few things irregularities, which place the credibility of the whole electoral process in doubt; issues with the legislative structure which places restrictions on the electoral process; a number of organisations are not performing their duties to guarantee credible, free and fair election. The electoral system does not provide space for inclusiveness; lack of independence of electoral commissions; long process of election conflict resolution; irresponsible behavior by politicians and followers materializing in thuggery and violence; lack of effective democratic institutions and monetisation of politics (Adebayo, 2016; Ikyase, et.al., 2015). For that reason, money does not just establish that contest in electoral politics in Nigeria, however it likewise drowns votes and voices as godfathers openly confess about shady deals, financing or funding elections for godsons and buying electoral success. The outcome of the obstacles is that the votes of the people do not count. In spite of the implementation of the several electoral reforms with the aim of recommending ways to restore sanity to the nation's electoral process, election violence has been the significant bane of Nigeria's democratic sustainability since the emergence of the fourth republic in Nigeria.
Without gainsaying, elections are at the core of the democratic process, for that reason, elections that are without pressure, inappropriate influence and worry is sacrosanct. To attain this (i.e., free, fair and credible elections), continuing initiatives are being made by state, non-state actors and international organizations to guarantee free and fair conduct and administration of elections in a bid to guarantee and ensure credibility. Underscoring the utmost importance of credible elections around the world, USAID and other relevant international agencies over the last thirty years have relentlessly helped both the emerging and consolidating democracies in carrying out free and fair elections. Over the intervening decades, these international organisations have given some types of technical support so as to guarantee credible elections and ensure improved governance and societal wellness in the nation concerned.
Events and happenings from developed democracies all over the world have revealed that the significance of election security to the credibility of elections cannot be overemphasized as the conduct and administration of free, fair and credible elections to an excellent degree rely on the security system available in any democratic setting. Thus, the advancement and employment of different security measures by various governments and electoral commissions in both consolidated and emerging democracies to guarantee election credibility and as a result avoid legitimacy crisis. Sean Dunne, talking about the importance of elections security, avers that, reliable security throughout an electoral process is critical to enhancing participants' confidence and dedication to an election. He, later suggested more that security continues to be an inseparable part of the electoral process.
The significance of a secured environment for the conduct of free, fair and credible elections cannot be downplayed. To this effect, the unalloyed contributions of governments at all levels and the readiness of security agencies to manage security challenges before, during, and after elections cannot be overemphasized. Particularly, nonetheless, as a result of the spate, enormity and magnitude of electoral violence that have been experienced from previous general elections between 1999 and 2019 in Nigeria, there were major misgivings from within and outside Nigeria regarding whether the government would certainly have the ability to provide adequate and well-coordinated security that will ensure the conduct of free, fair and credible elections in 2023. Against this backdrop, this study relying mainly on secondary sources of data collection critically examined the role of security agencies in a free, fair and credible election by using 2023 presidential election as a case study.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
In Nigeria, security of voters, election materials and officials and the preservation of legal and orderly electoral processes are essential for free, fair and credible elections. In accordance with the provisions of the Police Act, the Criminal Code (1990), the Police Service Commission (PSC) guidelines (2003) and the Electoral Act (2010), security agencies, especially the police are saddled with the constitutional duty of providing proper security throughout elections to allow people elect their leaders under a calm atmosphere without fraud, worry, coercion, intimidation and violence. While the Police Service Commission guidelines emphasize the scope for police involvement in the electoral process, the Electoral Act plainly specifies what makes up electoral offences before, during and after elections and designates the role of maintaining internal security throughout elections to the police.
Although, the provisions of the above-stated legal structures and allied documents are inarguably elaborate and detailed enough to make sure that the police efficiently and professionally perform their electoral functions, reports of actual performance of security agencies throughout elections suggest rather sadly that the police have not only failed to properly carry out their election responsibilities but have themselves ended up being a central element of the security challenges connected with the conduct of elections in Nigeria. Consequently, election insecurity has ended up being an enduring attribute of election administration in Nigeria. This issue made the Nigerian citizen to question the role of the Nigerian security agencies before, during and after elections in Nigeria. Hence, this study aims to examine the role of security agencies in a free, fair and credible election by using 2023 Presidential election as a case study.
1.3 Objectives of the Study
This study has both main and specific objectives. The main objective of this study is to examine the role of security agencies in a free, fair and credible election by using 2023 Presidential election as a case study. However, the specific objectives are:
i) To study how the security agencies curb electoral violence before, during and after elections
ii) To understand the impact of electoral violence and insecurity on the electoral participation in Nigeria
iii) To highlight the challenges faced by the security agencies in curbing electoral violence in Nigeria.
1.4 Research Questions
The followings are the research questions for this study:
i) How does the security agencies curb electoral violence before, during and after elections?
ii) What is the impact of electoral violence and insecurity on the electoral participation in Nigeria?
iii) What are the challenges faced by the security agencies in curbing electoral violence in Nigeria?
1.5 Research Hypotheses
The followings are the research hypotheses for this study:
i) There is a significant influence of the security agencies on electoral violence before, during and after elections
ii) There is a significant relationship between electoral violence and insecurity on the electoral participation in Nigeria
1.6 Significance of the Study
The findings of the study would be significant in several ways.
It would serve as a reference material both for students and other researchers, who may have need for information and documentations on this area of academic study.
The findings would also be helpful to all the security agencies that their role in ensuring free, fair and credible election before, during and after elections are properly carried out without any form of bias.
The findings would also offer the electorate the opportunity to evaluate the role of security agencies in free, fair and credible election without any form of fear or intimidation from the security agencies.
1.7 Scope of the Study
The study focused on Presidential election in 2023. Although the study is limited to the Presidential election of 2023, it is assumed that in Nigeria generally, the general elections have similar attributes. Based on this assumption, the result of the findings could be generalized and the Nigeria Police shall also be used as the only security agencies examined in this study.
1.8 Limitations of the Study
The study was faced with time and fund constraints being academic based research. The time allocated for this study was not enough as in combining the work on this study with daily academic routine. Also, the study was limited to some areas due to the problems of funds, shortage of texts, journals and information relevant to the study.
1.9 Definition of Terms
The following terms were used in this study:
Elections: this is a system of choosing a person or group of people for positions in the society by a legal way of voting.
Security agencies: governmental organization that conducts intelligence activities for the internal security of a nation.
