Security Challenges and Election Management in Nigeria

Abstract

A part from routine policing and defence responsibility of security institutions in Nigeria, they also perform the duties of providing security and conducive environment for electoral staff and their materials, voters, and candidates during election processes. They focus on manning polling units, collation centers, INEC offices and general security patrol. Yet; since the return of democracy in Nigeria in 1999, elections in the country have been characterized by various mal-practices such as snatching of ballot boxes, political assassinations, rigging and all forms of malpractices prior to, during and after elections. This has often brought unpopular politicians into power and consequently their poor performances. In this study, we examine how security deployment, security professionalism and their non-partisanship relate with elections management in Nigeria. The western countries have achieved remarkably in their electioneering processes due to professionalism exhibited by its security institutions and modern policing strategies but developing countries like Nigeria are still far from reaching that landmark. The study adopted the survey research design which allowed the researcher the use of questionnaire to explain described and predicted relationship between the observed variables. The population of the study comprised of staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission and Cross Riverians of voting age that participated in previous elections in the state. The stratified random sampling techniques and quota system was used to determine the sample size for the study. A total of 150 respondents were drown from the three senatorial districts of the state. Data for the study was analyzed using the Pearson moment correlation coefficient techniques. The modernization theory was used as a theoretical frame work. The result of the tested hypotheses shows that there is significant relationship between the rate of security deployment and election management. Also security professionalism significantly relate with election management in the state. It was also revealed that there is significant relationship between security partisanship and election management. All these were discovered to have affected election management negatively in the state. It was therefore recommended that security institutions in the state should improve on the numerical strength of personnel deployment during election processes. Security personnel should also be exposed to special elections coverage training to acquaint them with the necessary skill to handle election related crisis. Furthermore, the leadership of security institutions in the state should setup personnel monitoring team that should ensure personnel are non partisan during election coverage.