CitizensGovSpace

Democracy, Elections and Nigeria: Problems and Way Forward (1) Continued from previous post on democracy and elections Can cosmetics help me to hide my ulterior intents? Everyone sees right through me. Domage! Maybe, I need a better make-up kit. Data from the National Bureau of Statistics shows that as at 2015, the proportion of Nigerian children (aged 15 and lower) was more than twice the percentage of adults and elderly combined [7] . Children and youths make a significant chunk of the population, as such, the impact of manipulations of under-aged voting is astronomical. During the 2015 general elections, it was argued that under-aged voters participated and cast votes. Recently in Kano, there were complaints that under-aged voters (voters below the 18-year-old cut off), participated in elections and skewed the outcome of the State’s council elections. Some persons even insisted that INEC officials colluded to escalate this illegal practice. This is being investigate

Democracy, Elections and Nigeria: Problems and Way Forward (1) You have given me the power to make and unmake.  Go to sleep, I will decide on your behalf.  The 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (now amended), states that “the Federal Republic of Nigeria shall be a State based on the principles of democracy and social justice... It … declared that: (a) sovereignty belongs to the people of Nigeria from whom government through this Constitution derives all its powers and authority; (b) the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government: and (c) the participation by the people in their government shall be ensured in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution” [1] . Building on this knowledge, can citizens confidently say that their intentions would naturally shape their leadership in Nigeria? Has Nigeria been experiencing true democracy only on paper? Has our form of democracy been diluted to emasculate citizens? Has Nig