ELECTION MANIPULATION IN NIGERIA AND ITS CONSEQUENCES ON INTERNAL SECURITY OPERATIONS

Abstract

Electoral manipulation and rigging have become a tradition in Nigerian democratic system that was ushered in since 29th May, 1999. To those benefiting from the rigging, it is a normal process that should proceed unabated. There are however indications that the bad system is characterized by greater abnormalities that are capable of leading the country on a narrow part to a failed state. Electoral rigging anywhere in the World ushers into the political sphere desperate politicians, with no leadership and administrative skills this category of leaders have little or no interest on the growth and sustainable development of the state and citizens they are to govern. Because they are bad, they mobilize followers who are criminals to help deliver their ambitions of becoming either president of the country, governors, House of assembly members at state and federal level as well as local government chairmen. These followers who are mainly cultist of different groups and organization will automatically assume the role of private and secret security guard when their masters maneuver themselves into various political offices. This particular point is the beginning of insecurity and security challenges post on general security network of the country. The supporters of our political leaders commit heinous crimes and when in police or Department of State Services (DSS) net, calls are received from their political masters negotiating their immediate release. Therefore, the founders of Boko Haram, Islamic States of West African Province (ISWAP), Banditry, Kidnappers, armed robbery and Secessionist Movement are boys loyal to some of the political leaders. The paper examines the reasons of security collapse in the country since the advent of democracy in 1999, and the consequences of electoral manipulation on internal security operation. The paper depended solely on secondary source of data collection; text books journals, internet sources as well as newspapers were consulting. The Elite theory was adopted to help explain the topic under investigation. The recommendation made were, total overhauled of our electoral system, full funding of security network to provide relevant equipment to tackle crime and creation of employment.