ABSTRACT:
Since the end of military rule in May 1999, the nationwide elections have been trailed with issues and incidents that generate a lot of anxiety, fear and trepidation. For the record, since the exit of the military from political power, there have been general elections in 2003 and 2007. The conduct and outcome of the elections have left Nigerians intensely divided, bruised and laced with dashed hopes for the practice of democracy. Furthermore, those who have been elected have failed to spreads the fruits of democracy to the electorates. Thus, most Nigerians have encountered frustration, disillusionment and disenchantment with elusiveness of the fruits of democracy due to widespread patterns of corruption and unaccountable governance.
For all intents and purposes a lot of political heat has been generated which threaten to undermine the nascent democracy. Consequently, until there are dramatic changes in the course of future elections it feared that Nigerians could relive the traumatic experience of military ruthlessness and dictatorship.
The task of this paper is to examine the elections since the end of military rule in Nigeria in May 1999. To realize this objective, the rest part of the paper examines electoral experiences in Nigeria from the colonial era to 1999, subsequently, the paper examines the management of election since the end of military rule in 1999, thereafter, the paper analyzes the flaws associated with the elections and their implications for democratic practice now and the year ahead in the country.
