Benue State University, Makurdi

Inconclusive Elections and the Electoral Process in Nigeria's Post 2015 General Elections

Habu Muhmmned

Abstract

The spate of inconclusive elections since the aftermath of the 2015 general elections in Nigeria has been cited as sign posting the dangers ahead of the current and future electoral process in Nigeria. In deed the "new" obvious challenges to successful election in the country's transition to democracy, the frequent declaration of regular, bye and re-run elections inconclusive by the Independent National Electoral has attracted the attention of stakeholders within an outside the country the most. This paper examines the causes, dynamics and patterns of inconclusive elections from the perspective of weak institutional, attitudinal a political culture of the dominant political parties, the judiciary and the electoral empire. Using a qualitative method of data analysis, the paper argues that political parties with their weak institutional bases intentionally hatch, through cut-throat competition and compromised legal technicalities, inconclusiveness of elections. The paper concludes that addressing the crisis of inconclusive elections requires the input II stakeholders, particularly politicians, political parties, the civil society, the electoral management body and the judiciary. The action is not only for the 1NEC to undertake, it requires a synergy of stakeholders because the problems of the conduct of elections emanate mainly from the institutional weaknesses that affect the democratic institutions in developing democracies such as Nigeria.

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