Myth or Reality: Evaluating the Impact of Electoral Integrity on Democratic Legitimacy in Nigeria from 1999 to 2023 within the West African Context.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.54536/ijsscs.v2i1.6540Keywords:
Democratic Legitimacy, Electoral Integrity, Fourth Republic, INEC, Nigeria, Voter Turnout, West AfricaAbstract
This study examines the relationship between electoral integrity and democratic legitimacy in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic (1999–2023), situating the analysis within the broader West African democratic landscape. Employing qualitative methodology and comparative review of seven electoral cycles, this paper investigates whether electoral integrity genuinely influences democratic legitimacy or remains a theoretical ideal disconnected from political reality. Findings reveal a paradoxical pattern where, despite periodic elections, persistent irregularities including vote buying, result falsification, and violence have undermined both electoral credibility and citizen trust. Notably, voter turnout declined precipitously from 52.3% in 1999 to a historic low of 26.7% in 2023, signaling a profound legitimacy crisis. The study concludes that while electoral integrity significantly impacts democratic legitimacy, institutional constraints and political interference have transformed this relationship into a contested myth, necessitating urgent institutional reforms to restore public confidence.
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