www.idosr.org Udu ©IDOSR PUBLICATIONS International Digital Organization for Scientific Research ISSN: 2579-082X IDOSR JOURNAL OF BANKING, ECONOMICS AND SOCIAL SCIENCES 4(1): 13-24, 2019. Electoral Credibility and the Prospects of Democratic Consolidation in Nigeria: The Role of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Larry E. Udu Department of Public Administration Ebonyi State University ABSTRACT The paper examines the power and responsibilities of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in electoral administrations in the country and the implications of the institution's under-performance on democratic consolidation in Nigeria. Content Analytical Approach was adopted and the systems theory propounded by David Easton was used as theoretical foundation. The paper reveals that there has been fundamental and institutional constraints which subject INEC to government/political manipulations, a situation that is inimical for democratic consolidation in the country. INEC performance in the 2015 general elections notwithstanding, the body ought to be autonomous in all ramifications so as to be able to discharge its duties impartially and responsibly and hence, consolidate democracy in Nigeria by the instrumentality of credible elections. Keywords: INEC, electoral, credibility, democratic consolidation and Nigeria. INTRODUCTION Elections are fundamentally the central institution of democratic Be that as it may, experiences over governments. This is because, in an the years, have shown that, despite ideal democracy, the authority of the painstaking efforts at electoral government derives purely from the reforms in Nigeria, the electoral consent of the electorate; hence, the institution (INEC) has not been truly principal platform for securing and independent, rather, it has operated translating that consent into like a parastatal of the executive or governmental authority results from ruling party of the time and this, periodically conducting credible results to high level electoral elections. Essentially, a malpractices which threaten democratic and credible election democratic consolidation in the are characterized by competitive, country. This paper contends that periodic, inclusive, definitive and the independence of INEC as transparently free and fair provided by the 1999 constitution of process; otherwise, the outcome the federal republic of Nigeria is would be enthronement of an grossly defective and as such, the illegitimate government which has requisite independence status of negative implications for the commission is not properly democratic consolidation. To achieve safeguarded. The defect is this, an independent electoral reflected in the clear lack of political process is critical and electoral will to protect the integrity of the institutions must be truly Nigerian electoral process [1]. independent of the executive or ruling party in all ramifications. 13 IDOSR JOURNAL OF BANKING, ECONOMICS AND SOCIAL SCIENCES 4(1): 13-24, 2019. www.idosr.org Udu The Cardinal Objectives of This Paper are Section 1 captures the introduction and to:Identify factors that constitute electoral theoretical foundation of the paper; credibility; Assess the contributions of the section two dwells on the classification of INEC in ensuring electoral credibility and key concepts while section three deals democratic consolidation in Nigeria with the methodology employed in the against the backdrop of its avowed paper. Sections four discusses the mandates; and Examine the challenges of Role/mandates of the INEC, its historicity the INEC in living up to its expected and prospects of democratic consolidation responsibilities as electoral umpire in in Nigeria under INEC leadership. Section Nigeria five rapts up the paper with conclusion The paper is divided into five sections. and recommendations. THEORETICAL FOUNDATION David Easton was the first political system is an activity in which input scientist to develop a system framework from the environment are converted for political analysis [2]; [3]. Extrapolated into outputs through the from the biological sciences, a system can authoritative allocation of values. be seen as a set of interrelated elements or Consequently, as delineated by a set of inter dependent variables, while a Easton, there are four (4) main political system on the other hand, can be processes involved in a typical seen as a "system of interactions in any political system: the process; society through which binding or output process; the conversion and authoritative allocations are made" [4]. the feedback processes. This is perhaps, why [5], dubbed the system What can be deduced from the above theory as "input-output analysis". expose is that a typical system has certain peculiarities': first, a system According to [6], while the inputs give is composed of elements or parts the political system its dynamic (sub-systems), that function as a character as it consists of: (i) whole; in other words, there is an demands (the raw materials that the organic unity and interdependence political system is called upon to between component parts of a process), and (ii) support system such that any change in one (favourable orientations and part, causes a change in the other activity on the part of the people parts and by extension, the entire towards the political system and system, second, a system has serving as the energy that processes identifiable boundaries demands); outputs on the other distinguishing it from the hand, refers to those values that Macrocosm within which it operates; have been authoritatively allocated hence, a system can be for all of society. Hence, other international or domestic, though elements of the political system both categories are sometimes, not include the conversion process which mutually exclusive but portrays how the various demands complimentary and reciprocal. The are converted into outputs expressed impact of this is that, though a in form of public policies and system may convey the notion of programmes; and, the feedback self-sufficiency, yet inter-and intra- process that provides information to system relations must exist. policy makers on the impact of their However, where these cooperative policies on environment. and harmonious relations are lost and/or denied, as in the Nigerian A detailed discussion of this it not political system, then systemic necessary here but it is instructive breakdown would be inevitable. to note that [7], also drew attention to a salient feature that is critical in According to the theory, a political a political system maintaining 14 IDOSR JOURNAL OF BANKING, ECONOMICS AND SOCIAL SCIENCES 4(1): 13-24, 2019. www.idosr.org Udu homeostatic equilibrium, and that selected to represent the electorate. is the ability of the political system In other words, a free and fair to meet the demands from its election, legitimizes an electoral environment. Accordingly, while too outcome. According to [8], there are many demands can pull down a four major variables on which the system, yet unfulfilled demands, concept of free and fair elections particularly when they are genuine, is rests. These are: (i) the political capable of spelling doom for the parties; (ii) the individuals; (iii) the political system as those whose voting process, and (iv) the election genuine aspirations are side-tracked outcome. or traded off, are most likely to Starting with the political parties, he withdraw their supports for the argued that in a multiparty democracy, for political system; hence, occasioning an election to be considered as free and stress. fair, the: Parties must be free to compete, to Liberal democracy entails unfettered organize, to recruit members, to articulate access to the greatest number of policies, to stage relies and to solicit votes. citizens in the determination of their The less the political system restrains national affairs. Consequently, when opposing parties from the business of this privilege is hijacked by an organizing and campaigning, and the less oligarchy or subtly withdrawn from it systematically, favours a particular party the masses like was prominent with (typically the ruling party), the freer and the PDP dominated government in fairer the election may be said to have the country in recent times, the been. political system is bound to experience instability and By the same logic, for an election to be disaffection. free and fair, the: Individual must be free to participate in The above scenario serves as a the political process to join the party of platform to posit that the osmotic their choice, to campaign for its platform take-over of the political landscape of and of course, to vote for it (or not to vote the county by then ruling People’s at all). Democratic Party (PDP); dovetailing in some unfulfilled demands by Furthermore, on the voting process: the citizens of Nigeria for a viable Each person should have one and only one oppositional alternative to realize vote. Each person should be counted their political objectives and make equally. No one who satisfies some limited their inputs with the political set of conditions (such as minimum age conversion box is potently and sound mind) should be refused destructive both for the party and for registrations, no registered voter should the society at large. The outcome of be prevented from voting, nor should the Nigerian general elections 2015 anyone be allowed to vote more than once, for example, has proved this nor should any votes be counted for a ascertain beyond reasonable doubts.