Election Administration in Nigeria's Fourth Republic: Challenges and Prospects

This book examines the prospects and challenges of administering elections in Nigeria during the Fourth Republic. It highlights persistent flaws in the electoral process—lack of transparency, fairness, accountability, and popular participation—rooted in historical and systemic issues. The authors explore these problems from multiple perspectives, addressing the historical antecedents of Nigeria’s democratic journey and proposing reforms to strengthen credibility. Key discussions include election observation and monitoring, the role of media, and the introduction of technology in voting systems. The book also analyzes the influence of incumbency on electoral outcomes and the complexities of party politics, such as ethnic and religious sentiments and intra-party conflicts during primaries. Additionally, it reflects on how practices from the military era continue to shape electoral manipulation. By combining historical insight with contemporary analysis, the book offers a comprehensive understanding of Nigeria’s electoral challenges and pathways toward reform.

Ebenezer Oluwole Oni obtained a Doctorate in Political Science from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. He is a 2014/2015 and 2015/2016 recipient of the Social Science Research Council’s Next Generation Social Sciences in Africa Doctoral Proposal and Dissertation Fellowships in Peace, Security and Development, funded by the Carnegie Foundation.

Omololu M. Fagbadebo is a Research Associate at the Durban University of Technology, South Africa. He holds a PhD in Political Science from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. He was a recipient of the Study of the United States Institutes (SUSI) fellowship on American Politics and Political Thought at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, USA, in 2010.