A Comparative Study of Election Process in Three West African Countries: Nigeria, Ghana And Liberia

A Comparative Study of Election Process in Three West African Countries: Nigeria, Ghana And Liberia.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title page – – – – – – – – – i
Dedication – – – – – – – – – ii
Acknowledgment – – – – – – – – iii
Approval Page- – – – – – – – – iv
Table of Contents – – – – – – – – v-vi

CHAPTER ONE: BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY

1.0 Introduction – – – – – – – – 1-2
1.1 Statement of the Problem – – – – – – – 2-3
1.2 Aim and Objectives – – – – – – – 3
1.3 Scope of the Study – – – – – – – 3-4
1.4 Research Methodology – – – – – – – 4-5
1.5 Literature Review – – – – – – – – 5-15

CHAPTER TWO: AN OVERVIEW OF THE ELECTORAL HISTORY OF NIGERIA, GHANA AND LIBERIA

2.1 Introduction – – – – – – – – 16
2.2 History of Electoral Process in Nigeria – – – – – 16-21
2.3 History of Electoral Process in Ghana – – – – – 21-26
2.3 History of Electoral Process in Liberia – – – – – 27-29

CHAPTER THREE: PRINCIPLES OF ELECTORAL PROCESS AND THEIR APPLICATION IN NIGERIA, GHANA AND LIBERIA

3.0 Introduction – – – – – – – – 30
3.1 Principles of Elections in Nigeria – – – – – – 30-38
3.2 Principles of Elections in Ghana – – – – – – 38-42
3.3Principles of Elections in Liberia – – – – – – 42-47
3.4 Conclusion – – – – – – – – 47

CHAPTER FOUR: COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE ELECTORAL PROCESS IN NIGERIA, GHANA AND LIBERIA

4.0 Introduction – – – – – – – – 48
4.1 Nigeria: The Degree of Soundness in the Conduct of Elections – 48-53
4.2 Ghana: The Extent of Freeness and Fairness in the Conduct of Elections 53-56
4.3 Liberia: The Degree of Credibility in the Conduct of Elections – – 56-65
4.4 General Assessment – – – – – – – 65-71

CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

4.1 Summary – – – – – – – – – 72-73
4.2 Conclusion – – – – – – – – 74
4.3 Recommendation – – – – – – – – 75-78
Bibliography – – – – – – – – 79-84

INTRODUCTION

All over the world, democracy have been embraced, while principles have assumed as the main pillar in selecting political leaders in a democratic society. In West Africa, undoubtedly, the most appropriate platform for selecting leaders is through elective principles.

This process of selecting leaders has been in use, in the selected West African Countries: Nigeria, Ghana and Liberia.

Historically, these three West African States have many things in common: located in the same region: experienced similar colonial political framework: have similar election process yet they have different ways and modes of selecting leaders.

Subsequently, Nigeria like other West African countries included Ghana and Liberia have chosen elective principles as a way forward to popular participation and good governance.

The process of which this popular participation and good governance are consolidated is through election.

Election has been seen in a democratic society as a formal decision making venture, of which the people in a particular geopolitical entity choose individuals, equip with a legitimate mandate to hold and manage public offices1 , such public offices like legislative, executive and judicial institutions which are often determined by the majority head count.

The most important elections in the countries of the study are aimed at selecting leaders for the local, state and national governments. The chance to decide who will govern at this level of government serves as an opportunity for the public to make choice about the policies, programmes and future direction of government actions.

At the same time election promotes accountability and responsibility by the government to the people’s quests. 8 In most country of the world, electoral bodies are vested with the responsibility to decide on electoral matters without the intervention of any arms of government.

This means that, electoral bodies have the supreme audacity to operate on a full-scale of autonomy. Such institutions in the study area, controlling and managing elections affairs are Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Nigeria.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Abdullahi Y.S, Planning free and fair elections in Niegeria, in: S.M. Omodia (Ed.) Managing Elections in Nigeria, Keffi, Onaivi Printing and Publishing Company, 2008.

Ake C. The State in Contemporary Africa, in Ake C. (ed) A Political Economy of Nigeria, Lagos Longman 1985.

Ake C., Is Africa Democratizing? Lagos: CASS and Malthouse press Ltd, 1996.

Brethon T., the Rise and Fall of Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana Pall Mall, 1964.

David Kimble, A Political History of Ghana, Ghana, Clarendon Press, 1963.

Ismail M. et al. Electoral Commission in West Africa, A Comparative Study, Second Edition, Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, 2007.

Isa Y.I etal The Courts and Management of Elections in Niegeria, in S.M. Omodia (Ed), Managing Elections in Niegria, Keffi, Onai vi Printing and Publishing Company

Kwame A.N., Political Parties and Political Participation in Ghana, Accra.

Ibaba I.S., Elections and Crisis of Democratic Practice in Nigeria, Journal of Social and Policy Issues, Vol.4 No.1

Laki H, grammar of Politics, George Allen and Unwin, publisher Ltd. London, 1982

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