Electoral malpractices in Nigeria

Electoral Malpractice

Malpractice is the act of failing to do professional duty properly or making a mistake while doing it. E.g a police man failing to arrest and prosecute criminals has failed in his responsibilities and this is a malpractice.

Electoral malpractice is the failing of all electoral institutions or bodies to carry out election in the proper or professional ways it is supposed to be done. It is any act that hinders free and fair election. i.e. it is any act of lawlessness that could stop or discourage people to cast their vote freely and sincerely.

Forms of Electoral Malpractices

Electoral malpractices can come in various forms which are:

1. Through under- age voting – People indulge in this by allowing those who are not adult to vote, those who are below the age of 18.
2. Multiple registrations of voters by a single individual.
3. Stealing of electoral materials like ballot boxes, ballot papers, voters register etc.
4. Thuggery and intimidation – Some people employ tugs to put fear in people’s mind so they can stop them from coming out to vote
5. Falsification or outright inflation of election results
6. Bribery and corruption in the form of giving money to electoral officers with the intention to make them change election results.
7. Financial inducement – Poverty as made many in the country not to have a say. People are ready to vote for politicians who give them money
8. Fake manifestos – Many contestants present what they know they will not be able to achieve throughout their term.
9. Keeping of electoral materials into personal custody and not with INEC or SIEC
10. Fake ballot papers – Ballot papers are to be provided by the electoral body INEC and sometimes parties conspire with electoral officers and use fake ballot papers along with the genuine ones
11. Manipulation of voters – Illiteracy makes many voters to fall prey to wicked people and politicians who wants to be leaders by all means
12. Artificial Scarcity – During election some wicked people conspire with electoral officers to create artificial scarcity of electoral materials by hoarding the materials.

Causes of Electoral Malpractice

1. Tribal sentiment – Many tribes want a leader from their ethnic group to rule the nation rather than vote for good and trustworthy leaders
2. Foreign influence – Other countries want to support those who would favour them when in Government.
3. Politics as a means of getting rich – Many people who were paupers become rich through politics. They embezzle money and do what they like hence the reason many contestants involve in malpractice just to win the election
4. Illiteracy and Poverty – Many people are illiterates and they are poor so they are easily manipulated
5. Quest to continue in power – Some leaders who have tasted power wants to continue to serve and do not want to leave the position of power.

Assessment

Mention 5 forms of electoral malpractices common in Nigeria

Enumerate 4 causes of Electoral Malpractice