CHAPTER 1:
Introduction
Election has become an important component of democracy and democratization debates in Africa. Some scholars believe that elections, has democratic self-reinforcing powers (Lindberg, 2006; 2009), stimulating civic activism and actions often better than free and fair elections (Bratton, 2013, p. 38). Others contend that only high-quality election can lead to democratization (Bogaaards, 2013; Lewinsky & way, Competitive Authoritarianism: Hybrid Regimes after the Cold War, 2010; Bratton, 2013). While each of these arguments holds and perhaps clarifies the extent of democratic commitments, none examined the significance of institutional capacity building of electoral management bodies (EMBs) 4 in improving the credibility of election. Moreover, the most common problems of electoral irregularities occurred in sub-Sahara Africa and are tied to logistical, administrative, and political difficulties (Norris, 2014, pp. 76-88).5 In the midst of these challenges, however, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Nigeria conducted the 2015 presidential election which all domestic and international electoral stakeholders accepted as credible, including the losing incumbent. How does INEC achieve this monumental success?
1.1 Background of the Study
The conduct of free and fair elections are the hallmark of truly democratic societies and the world has today come to witness elections in all the countries that practice one form of democracy or the other. In doing this, these countries have entrusted the task of carrying out these elections to various bodies established whether constitutionally or otherwise to conduct elections to various elective positions in their countries. In the United States for instance, the Electoral College indirectly conducts the presidential elections. Britain has in place the Electoral Commission to help conduct its parliamentary elections while in Australia, there is the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) a body charged with conducting federal elections and referendums etc. Nigeria is not left out in this practice as it has through its laws established a body tasked with the duty of conducting free and fair elections into various elective positions in the country.
The body charged with this task of conducting free, fair and credible elections in Nigeria is the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). INEC under Part 1 of the Amended Electoral Act 2011 is recognized as established by section 153 (1) (f) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and its composition and powers are seen under the Third schedule, which provides thus:
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