Electoral Militarization and the Challenges of Free and Fair Elections in Nigeria: A Focus on the 2023 Presidential Election

Abstract

Elections in Nigeria has not only become a “do or die affair” as aptly captured by former President Olusegun Obasanjo but a reflection of the character of Nigeria’s political class who are only interested in extracting all they could from the country. Additionally, a major issue of debate and comments from scholars after every election in the country is the use of the military in the conduct of such elections. This study examines electoral militarization and the challenges of free and fair elections in the country with a focus on the 2023 presidential election. Qualitatively driven with reliance on the secondary sources of data, it argues that although the 2023 election scored some level of pass mark in the area of security deployment and the exhibition of some decorum in the conduct of security personnel in some states of the federation during the election, the heavy presence of the military negatively affected the outcome of the contest. Similarly, it adduced the low voter turnout in the election and traced most of the recorded incidences of violence and malpractice to the intimidating presence of military personnel during the process. The study recommends constitutional and political reforms aimed at making politics less attractive particularly at the centre, reduction in the jumbo salaries and allowances paid to political office holders, introduction of electronic voting among others if the attainment of a free, fair and credible elections is to be achieved in Nigeria.