Nnadiebube Journal of Religion, Culture and Society

The 2023 presidential election in Nigeria is a central event that has significantly impacted the nation’s democratic progress. While Nigeria has made strides in consolidating its democratic institutions since transitioning from military rule in 1999, the electoral process continues to be plagued by persistent malpractices. These malpractices, including voter intimidation, vote-buying, ballot stuffing, and falsification of election results, have raised concerns about the credibility and fairness of elections in the country, posing a severe threat to the integrity of the democratic framework. The erosion of public trust, potential threats to political stability, and legitimacy concerns for elected officials further compound the repercussions of these issues. These problems collectively jeopardize the dividends of democracy in various ways. Voter suppression and legal inconsistencies lead to inequitable representation, impacting resource distribution and public services. Compromised elections also fuel policy instability, hindering long-term development. Ultimately, these challenges weaken democratic values and governance systems, emphasizing the crucial need to address them for the preservation of democracy’s dividends. Hence this work would focus on- examining the historical context of electoral malpractices in Nigeria and their impact on the country’s democratic journey, analyzing the challenges faced by Nigerian democracy, with a focus on the 2023 presidential election, investigating the factors contributing to electoral malpractices and their effects on the legitimacy of the electoral process, evaluating the role of electoral institutions, civil society, and international actors in addressing electoral malpractices and strengthening democratic governance.

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