Nigeria’s president is elected by a qualified plurality vote to serve a four-year term. Nigeria faced unprecedented levels of insecurity during the country’s republican periods, demonstrating the dissatisfaction of a significant percentage of Nigerians with the conduct of their democratic institutions. Attacks on INEC offices across the country reflected greater security problems in the country, including insurgencies in northern Nigeria and secessionist movements in the southeastern region. Since 2019, nearly 50 incidents of vandalism and attacks were recorded against INEC offices and personnel by spoilers including terrorist activity in the North East states, banditry in the North West states, and a secessionist movement in the South East geopolitical zone. Security issues also present a significant challenge for the 2023 general elections. Election observers will pay close attention to the number of registered voters who collect their permanent voter’s cards and turn out to vote. As of the date of publication, the total was 93,469,008, over 9 million more than in the last general elections in 2019. However, INEC reported a high number of registered voters for the upcoming elections. Turnout was at record lows in the previous election cycle-only about 35 percent of registered voters. One challenge that Nigeria faces in these elections is voter turnout. The Bi-modal Voting Accreditation System (BVAS) verifies and authenticates voters, and the INEC Results Viewing Portal is a public-facing voter tabulation system that the INEC will deploy nationwide. Continuing Nigeria’s reputation for using advanced technology in elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will utilize two technological innovations to improve the integrity and transparency of the electoral process. The upcoming general elections will be the first nationwide elections conducted within the framework of the new Electoral Act, which President Buhari signed into law in February 2022. They will serve as a critical transfer of power, as President Muhammadu Buhari has served two mandates and is ineligible to seek another four-year term. The elections mark 24 years of uninterrupted democracy-the longest span in Nigeria’s history. The 2023 general election is the seventh consecutive general election since Nigeria re-established its democracy in 1999. Learn more about IFES's programs in Nigeria and follow and Twitter.Īdditionally, visit IFES's Election Guide for the most comprehensive and timely verified election information available online. To help you understand this important electoral process, the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) provides Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Elections in Nigeria: 2023 General Elections. Successful elections in Nigeria will also set a positive example for the continent, given they will be the first and largest African elections in 2023. A successful election in Nigeria could counter negative perceptions of governance within the region. Since 2020, the West African region has faced democratic backsliding, with the ECOWAS governments of Mali, Guinea, and Burkina Faso toppled by military juntas. The 2023 general elections will have regional implications for West Africa, as successful elections within Nigeria can provide a positive electoral template in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) region. Elections for 28 of the 36 governorships and State Houses of Assembly will follow on Saturday, March 11. Nigeria will hold general elections on Saturday, February 25, 2023, for presidential and National Assembly elections.
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