Elections are a pillar of liberal democracy. Citizens use them to choose their leaders and influence governance.
In Nigeria, under the 1999 constitution, the Independent National Electoral Commission has the responsibility to organise, undertake and supervise all elections, except local government elections. Local government elections fall under state electoral commissions. Since it was set up in 1998, the Independent National Electoral Commission has conducted seven general elections (every four years) as well as by-elections and supplementary polls.
But Nigeria’s electoral body has an inconsistent record of performance over the years. The 2007 vote was widely seen as Nigeria’s worst, while 2011 showed some improvement despite irregularities. In 2023, some areas ran smoothly, but others, like Lagos and Rivers states, experienced violence, logistical failures and delays. Result collation took six days despite early funding and preparation.
