ABSTRACT

Electoral malpractices undermine the legitimacy of the electoral process, the general acceptability of electoral outcomes, and challenges the democratization process in Nigeria. This study examines the role of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in the electoral process and its impact on the credibility of electoral outcomes in Nigeria, with emphasis on the 2019 general election. With evidence collected from documentary sources, we argue that the role of CSOs in the democratization process (before, during, and after elections) is important in advancing democracy in Nigeria. We found that the participation of CSOs in the electoral process of 2019, as significant as it was, was undermined by the paucity of fund, insecurity, administrative bottlenecks, and limited access for monitoring movement of sensitive election materials. We recommend, among other things, that the government set aside support funds for qualified/accredited Civil Society Organisations in the electoral process to aid them in undertaking their important role in the democratization process.

摘要

选举舞弊破坏了选举过程的合法性、选举结果的普遍可接受性，并挑战了尼日利亚的民主化进程。本研究考察了民间社会组织 (CSO) 在选举过程中的作用及其对尼日利亚选举结果可信度的影响，重点是 2019 年大选。根据从文件来源收集的证据，我们认为公民社会组织在民主化进程（选举前、选举期间和选举后）中的作用对于推进尼日利亚的民主很重要。我们发现民间社会组织在 2019 年的选举过程中的参与虽然重要，但由于资金匮乏、不安全、行政瓶颈以及监控敏感选举材料流动的机会有限而受到削弱。我们推荐，