THE ROLE OF FOREIGN OBSERVERS IN THE CONDUCT OF FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS IN NIGERIA, 2011-2015

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

The conduct of free and fair election is one of the cardinal features of democracy. Thus, democratic states across the world have not only made the conduct of periodic elections into various positions of authority a norm, they have gone further to give it constitutional backings thereby making it a law.  However, observations show that the quality  of elections in mass developing countries have often fallen short of international standards, hence undermining  the very essence of conducting democratic elections which is to give legitimacy to  governance.

In Nigeria for instance aside from the aborted June 12, 1993 presidential election, all other elections so far conducted by the various election manage mend  bodies have been embodied in diverse forms of electoral male practices and irregularities. In fact, electoral tribunals and other  courts  of competent  jurisdiction have in many instances either canalled election either to adjudged to be free and  fair. While the courts  have in some instances ordered the conduct  of  free election, theme have been cases where the  court and order given for him to be sworn-in  like the case  of Adams Oshiomole of Edo State. These  situations do not only question the credibility of the nation’s electoral process and the election management body, but also cast a shodour on the legitimacy of winners of such elections.

This ugly situation which is not only peculiar to Nigeria but is also wide-spread in other African countries as well as in less-developed democracies in Europe, the Americas and Asia raised the imperative for advanced democracies and institutions to establish or organizations which  embark on election observation in less-developed democratic nations.  Expectedly, the primary  objective of Foreign Election Observers (FEO) is to serve as impartial watchdogs who will assess whether the outlets of an election truly reflect the will of the people. Although Foreign Election Observers do not directly prevent total fraud, their unbiased reports,  criticisms  and recommendations  go long way to provide a foundation from which to govern,  reducing the  scope and propensity  for non- democratic challenges to governance. This go a long way to strengthen democratic culture across the world. This has been the scenario in Nigeria’s history of democratic practice especially since the advent of the fourth republic.

 Against this backdrop, this study therefore examines the role of Foreign Election Observers in the conduct of free and fair election in Nigeria with particular focus on fair election in Nigeria with particular focus on the 2011 and 2015 general elections.

1.  STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

        Scholars have written extensively on the conduct  offee and fair elections in  Nigeria,  the role of INEC in the conduct of  credible elections in Nigeria, as well as a host of other related topics. However,  not much has been devoted to examining  the role of  Foreign Election Observers in the conduct of the 2011 and 2015 elections which were adjudged to be free and fair and credible as compared to previous elections.

         For instance, Oladimeyi and Olatunji (2013) in their critical appraisal of the 2011 general elections discussed extensively on the  efficiency of INEC in its preparations for the 2011 elections, its ability to ensure compliance to electoral laws by political parties and actors, and  the level of  synergy  between INEC, security agencies and other institutions,  using the system theory and the decision-making as their theoretical framework of analysis, they argued  that when compared with past elections, the  2011 elections were relatively credible, free and fair. Nevertheless, they have also identified several shortcomings that characterized the 2011 elections. These according to part of INEC, undemocratic imposition  of candidates by all the leading political parties and various security lapses during and after the elections.  In all of these,  Oladimeji and Olatunji in their work did not take into cognizance the pivoted role played by Foreign Election observers in the  credible conduct of the election.

        Similarly,  Abdulahi (2913), Oriji (2015) Moveh (2013), Odunayo (2015),  Zega (2011), Jega (2015), Thurston (2015)Irem (2015),  and Onapaso (2015) have also committed  the same act of  omission in their various works. On the other hand,  scholars like Hyde (2017), Kelley (2008),  and Mangueira (2012) have in their respective works critically examined on a general broad perspective the place of Foreign election Observers in strengthening or thwarting democratic development  in less developed countries. They however did not vividly  examined  the subject matter as it affects the 2011 and 2015 general elections in Nigeria.

        Furthermore,  in their attempt  to analyze Nigeria’s  electoral process and the role of Foreign Election  Observers, scholars have deployed a number of theories except the  behaviouralist theory which they deem fit to explain electoral conduct in Nigeria. Unfortunately, their efforts through highly commendable is theoretical flamed as it fails to address a very important  variable of Nigeria’s electoral process which concerns the behavioral patterns of the political actors. This is in addition to the fact that previous studies have not actually contextualized the place or role of F.E.O in the conduct of free and fair election in Nigeria. This gap in knowledge  therefore raises the following  research questions.

•  Did the influence of Foreign Election Observers Impact in any way on the conduct of the 2011 and 2015 general  election?
•  Is the behavioural  patternsf Nigeria’s  political actors a factor in Nigeria’s  elections?

 These questions which beg for answers constitute the problem of this study which has necessitated  this research.