THE ROLE OF ELECTORAL COMMISION IN ENCHANCING DEVELOPMENT OF DEMOCRACY IN NIGERIA (A CASE STUDY OF IMO STATE INDEPENDENT ELECTORAL COMMISSION OWERRI)
ABSTRACT
This project is aimed at knowing the role of Electoral commission in enchasing development of democracy in Nigeria (A case study Imo State Independent electoral commission Owerri).This project is my modest Contribution to the already existing knowledge about the role of Electoral Commission in Enchasing Development of democracy in Nigeria. The project is divided into five chapters for the purpose of effective research work chapter one consist of the introduction, statement of problem, Objectives of the study , significance of the study and limitation of study and definition of terms. Chapter two outlines review of related literature and reference the Oretical frame work /hypothesis. Chapter three consist of research design and methodology, Area of study, population, source of data and the data used in writhing this project is a secondary data and was generated through questionnaires, the total number administered is one hundred and twenty questionnaires twelve(12) were wrongly, filled, twenty eight (80) were returned. Chapter four consist of the data presentation and analysis and the statistical method used is Chi-square, the research findings was discovered that responses from 4:1 were of the opinion that there is need for electoral process for the survival of democracy in Nigeria. While chapter five consist of the summary, conclusion, Bibliography, Recommendations which stages that there is need for electoral process for the survival of democracy and in Nigeria research questionnaire and questionnaire format instructor.
TABLE OF CONTENT
Title page ———————————————-i
Certification———————————————ii
Dedication ———————————————–iii
Acknowledgement —————————————iii-v
Abstract ————————————————-vi
Table of content—————————————-vii-x
Chapter one
- back ground of the study—————————–1-3
- statement of problem—————————–3.4
- objective of study——————————–4-5
- scopes of study and in limitation —————-5-6
- limitation of study——————————-6-7
- significance of study——————————7-8
- Theoretical framework—————————8-9
- Statement of hypothesis———————–9-10
- Operational definition of terms ————–11-10
CHAPTER TWO
2.0 Literature review —————————-12-13
2.1 functions of electoral commission ——–14-15
2.2 purpose of electoral————————-15-21
2.3 features of free and fair elections ———21-22
2.4 factors affecting free and fair election in Nigeria——-23-25
2.5 problems of the electoral commission——25-26
2.6 election and sustenance of democracy—-26-28
2.7 How to achieve or enhance the development of true democracy in Nigeria————————28-29
2.8 problems of gubernatorial and civil society in Nigeria gubernatorial—————————–29-32
2.9 An assessment of the 2007 gubernatorial and state house of assemble election —————–32-39
Reference ———————————————–40
CHAPTER THREE
3.0 Research design and methodology ——-41
3.1 research design——————————-41
3.2 area of study ———————————41
3.3 sample and sample procedure—————42-43
3.4 sampling procedure—————————43
3.5 instrument for data collection————–44-46
3.6 reliability of the instrument —————-44-46
3.7 methods of data collection secondary data —–47
CHAPTER FOUR
- Data presentation and analysis————-48
4.1 question No6 and analysis——————–49
4.2 analysis of question No8———————50-51
4.3 analysis of question No9———————–51
4.4 Testing of hypothesis————————–52
4.5 Test of hypothesis
4.6 Test of hypothesis i———————–52-56
4.7 Test of hypothesis ii———————-56-59
4.8 discussions of findings——————–62-64
CHAPTER FIVE
5.1 conclusions———————————66-67
5.2 recommendations—————————68
Questionnaire———————————-69-72
BIOBLIOGRAPHY
CHAPTER ONE
In every democratic system, the electorates elect those who will represent their interest at the government level and chart the course for their socio-economic development.
Election are therefore used as vital instrument to elect those who would be in authority and champion the course and welfare of the citizenry as well as promoting peace and stability in the state.
In Nigeria, the independent national electoral commission (INEC) was set up in 1998 major general Abdusalam Abubaka who succeeded the them head of state major general Sani Abuacha who died mysteriously prior to Abuchas exit, he had in place an election that will usher un the democratically elected government in 1st October 1998.
However, after his death, the Abubaka’s regime cognizance of the role of electoral commission dissolved the NECON and set-up –the independent National Election commission (INEC) charge to organize and ensure an effective election and smooth transition of power military government respectably thus , to ensure holistic conduct of the elections, state independent electoral commissions were set upon or establish in all the emergence of Imo State Independent Electoral Commission (IMOSIEC) which had the same statutory function as that of INEC to ensure a peaceful, free and fair conduct of both state, local government and counsel election in Imo State.
Therefore, for a deeper and all an compassing knowledge of the role of electoral, electoral commission in enhancing the development of democracy in Nigeria, IMSIEC was considered as a case study in view of the fact that it constitutes an integral part of independent national electoral commission.
However the staff of IMSEC, who were one hundred and twenty (120) and the general public who were one fifty two (52) in number through random selection constitution the population for this research exercise.
1.1 STATEMENT OF PROBLEM
There had been clear ion calls from people in Nigeria on the haphazard manner and pattern in which electoral commission
handled elections in the past result often leads to corruption of violence and subsequent cost of valuable life’s and property.
In addition, the problems of electoral mal-practical, rigging, ballot box and paper hijack among the rank and file of the assumed independence electoral commission officials, which remorsefully in must case, erupt crises there by destabilizing the policy. Further more, the issue of late arrive of and in adequate electoral materials in most polling centre as well as inaccurate voters list which sometimes disfranchise eligible registered electorates from exercising their civil responsibilities. Most importantly non- neutrality of the electoral commission constitutes remorse fully another major problem. It is uncontestable that the various electoral commission we have in the past have in way or the other being unduly influence by some political stalwarts in declaring a falsified result in favor of candidates who would have lost the election. Additionally, it commission knowledge that he who pays the piper, dictate the time, therefore, there is every possibilities that induces influence by the ruling party will definitely affect the statutory performance of the independence electoral commission.
1.2 OBJECTIVE OF STUDY.
Aware of the fact that the peace and stability of a given polity cannot be handled with kid glove approach, the need to involved an effective and efficient functional machinery of transition of power from one democratically elected government to another becomes unquestionable imperative. In the light of the above this research seeks to pursue the following objective.
- Assess the performance of the electoral commission in Nigeria especially, the independent national electoral commission (INEC)
- To examine the role, functions and activities of the electoral commission in and stability of the nation.
- To analyze the problems, hindrances obstacle and lapses of the electoral commission.
- To examine the feature of free and fair election in Nigeria.
- To identify the problems military against the conduct of free and fair elections in Nigeria using Imo State independent electoral commission as a case study.
- SCOPE OF THE STUDY IN LIMITATION
This research work was limited to Imo state alone the dimension of this study will not exceed the use of questionnaires and personal interviews through request for relevant materials and available document from the chainman the researcher. However, amidst these constraints, the researcher was able to make progress with the available resource at hand given the limited time frame.
The significance of study cannot be over emphasized. This researcher work in therefore significant in the following areas.
- It is significant to the following areas. Federation of Nigeria as some of them will be informed by its revelation.
The negative role some of them play in securing power.
- It will serve as an eye-opener to the electorates who will be exposed to some vital issues beyond their imagination.
- It will also be significant to the politicians who allow their selfish interest to come to bear on the collective interest of the people in Nigeria
- It will serve as a moral boaster to the official of the independent national and state electoral commission on the vital role that play in enhancing democracy in Nigeria.
- It is significant for students who would to research further on the course under discussion.
- It will equally expose the research on some vital issue affecting the stability of the country.
THE ROLE OF ELECTORAL COMMISION IN ENCHANCING DEVELOPMENT OF DEMOCRACY IN NIGERIA (A CASE STUDY OF IMO STATE INDEPENDENT ELECTORAL COMMISSION OWERRI)
