ELECTORAL INTEGRITY AND VOTERS’ CONFIDENCE IN NIGERIA: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF 2015 AND 2019 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS

Abstract

Countries around the world share major challenges in meeting international standards of electoral integrity. Nigeria’s return to democratic rule dates back to May 29th, 1999. In its wakes, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has conducted six Presidential Elections namely: 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015 and 2019 respectively. Since the adoption of card reader machine by the INEC, it is often expected and believed that electoral anomalies will have been resolved. However, malfunctioning of the card readers at several polling units, rejection of Permanent Voters’ Card, inability to capture voters biometrics from the finger tips, irregular capturing and battery damage which arises because of erratic power to the device are major challenges. This study set out to examine the relationship between electoral integrity, and voters’ confidence in Nigeria. The study used (mixed method) both primary and secondary sources of data collection. The study uses Liberal democratic theory. The study finds out that there is significant positive relationship between electoral integrity and voters’ confidence in Nigeria. The study concluded that there is significant positive relationship between electoral integrity and voters’ confidence in Nigeria. And the study have also made it clear that for any nation to achieve positive development it has to improve on the electoral integrity of her electoral process as well as voters’ confidence in the electoral process of the country.