Abstract

THE ROLE OF SECURITY FORCES IN ENSURING TRANSPARENT AND CREDIBLE ELECTION IN NIGERIA: A CASE STUDY OF EKITI STATE 2014 GUBERNATORIAL ELECTION

A M BABATOLA

Volume: 5 Issue: 4 2015

Abstract:

The essence of democracy is the provision of free and fair election occasioned by adequate, reliable and informed security apparatus. Various elections have taken place in Nigeria in the past, the Ekiti State Gubernatorial Election of June 21st, 2014 calls for assessment and perusal by the academia and policy makers. This study investigates the factors behind the conduct of the gubernatorial election of Ekiti State held on 21st June, 2014 believed to have been characterized with transparency, credibility and fairness to some extent. In doing this, the study adopts both primary and secondary sources of data collection. In which the data sources are complemented with oral interview with stakeholders and the members of public to elicit more information on the election. The study finds out that there was “over-militarization” of the poll. In other words, there was heavy security presence prior to Election Day. Perhaps, this might have accounted for the successful conduct of the election. The study therefore evaluates the roles played by the security forces in attaining peaceful poll in Ekiti State with a view to maintaining same in future elections in Africa.

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