Militarisation of the 2019 general elections and electoral integrity in Nigeria

ABSTRACT

In Nigeria, the integrity of elections has been compromised by several flaws, resulting in discredited or contested outcomes. This article investigates how militarisation undermined the integrity of the 2019 general elections in Nigeria. It contends that militarisation of elections in Nigeria is inherently connected to the post-colonial character of politics that places excessive premium on state power. In the case of 2019 elections, militarisation of the process heightened voter apathy, human rights violations, strained civil military relations and disruption of elections. It concludes on the need for broad constitutional, political and security sector reforms to address the challenge of militarisation of elections towards regaining public confidence in Nigeria’s faltering democracy.

KEYWORDS:

• Elections
• election violence
• electoral integrity
• militarisation
• vote buying