Effectiveness of Voter Education in Curbing Vote-Selling in the 2019 General Elections at Eti-Osa Local Government Area, Lagos (Published)
Vote-selling poses grave danger to any society and voter education is widely believed to be the panacea. This research evaluates the effectiveness of voter education in curbing vote-selling at Eti-Osa Local Government Area in the 2019 general elections. While some separate studies have been done on voter education and vote-selling, none was found that specifically evaluates the effectiveness of the former in curbing the latter. This is a gap this work seeks to fill. The three objectives of the study are to assess the level of voter education voters in Eti-Osa received before the 2019 general elections; to evaluate the appropriateness of the major channels used in communicating the voter education messages; and to ascertain whether voter education curbed vote-selling in Eti-Osa Local Government Area during the 2019 general elections. The Effect and Medium theories provide the theoretical framework for the work while questionnaires administered through multistage sampling technique and interview were the sources of gathering the relevant data. The findings reveal that the level of voter education in Eti-Osa was high and the major channel of voter education was fairly appropriate, though the mass media were not used. There is also a strong evidence that the voter education that was conducted curbed vote-selling to a large extent. Accordingly, it is recommended that the voter education efforts in the Local Government Area should be sustained in future elections; more channels of communication should be explored, while future voter education campaigns should also target politicians.
Harry M. and Ogbu, S. U (2022) Effectiveness of Voter Education in Curbing Vote-Selling in the 2019 General Elections at Eti-Osa Local Government Area, Lagos, Global Journal of Politics and Law Research, Vol.10, No.8, pp.1-32
Keywords: Election, Media, communication, vote-selling, voter education
A Holistic Appraisal of Electoral Fraud and Other Electoral Irregularities in Nigeria: Way Forward (Published)
Over the years, allegations of electoral fraud have been levelled against the various elections held in Nigeria, including presidential elections. The recurrent incidences of flawned elections has no doubt eroded the credibility of election results and also debased the trust in the Electoral Commission. This paper examines the factors responsible for flawned elections in Nigeria among others. This is doctrinal research which relies on both primary and secondary sources of data. This paper reveals that the politicians have come to see election as a do or die affairs, hence the frequent use of thuggery, intimidation and violence during elections. This paper concludes by proferring some solutions.
Keywords: Election, Fraud, Ideology, Nigeria, incumbency
Issues in Election Petition Adjudication in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic: A Sociological Critique of the Role of the Judiciary (Published)
The Nigerian judiciary has often come under severe criticisms for its handling – or mishandling – of election petition cases. In particular, judges have been accused of deliberate tardiness leading to unnecessary delays, conspiracy to frustrate litigants, corruption (including allegedly selling judgments to the highest bidder), undue politicization of the cases and downright travesty of justice, etc. This paper attempts to identify, dissect and interrogate the salient issues, challenges and controversies that are associated with and often punctuate election petition adjudication, even prior to but especially since 1999. The paper contends that individually and severally the issues constitute a huge impediment to the quest for justice by aggrieved persons and for democratic growth and consolidation. The paper cites numerous instances and episodes, including views, commentaries and perspectives of scholars and experts on the issues, as well as recommends steps to be taken by individuals, groups, institutions and government toward addressing the problems.
Keywords: Controversies, Election, Election Petition, Judiciary
Military Take Over By General Ershad and Constitutional Amendment in Bangladesh: A Modest Politico-Legal Study (Published)
General H.M.Ershad grabbed state power by military coup. He prolonged his reign by introducing self style democracy. In doing so he tried his best to create a better image by resorting to different people oriented activities. But his political ambition faced huge challenge from the opposition. The regime succeeded to manipulate opposition movement and persuade all political parties except BNP to take part in third parliamentary polls and thus managed to gain constitutional sanction of her reign. But the regime did never get any approval and sympathy from BNP led by Khaleda Zia. This article is intended to show the process of confidence building of the regime, how political motives were injected through its programs, how did it manipulate opposition movement and attain recognition of its actions.
Keywords: Democratic Rule, Dialogue, Election, Martial law, Neutral Government, Opposition Movement, Political Alliance.