THEORETICAL FRAMEWORKS ON ELECTIONEERING MATTERS IN NIGERIA AND IMPLICATIONS ON ELECTORAL JUSTICE

Abstract

Electioneering in Nigeria is governed by constitutional, statutory, regulatory and judicial frameworks designed to ensure free, fair and credible elections and the effective resolution of electoral disputes. This study examines the theoretical frameworks governing electioneering in Nigeria and their implications for electoral justice, with particular reference to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 and the Electoral Act 2026. It evaluates the extent to which these frameworks promote fairness, legal certainty, accessibility and the timely resolution of electoral disputes. The study adopts a socio-legal research methodology, combining doctrinal analysis of legislation, regulations and judicial decisions with an assessment of the practical operation of Nigeria’s electoral justice system. It argues that, despite significant developments in Nigeria’s electoral legal framework, persistent challenges, including procedural technicalities, delays in electoral litigation, evidential difficulties, institutional limitations and inconsistencies in judicial interpretation, continue to undermine the effective administration of electoral justice. The study therefore proposes legal and institutional reforms to strengthen the consistency, accessibility and effectiveness of electoral dispute resolution mechanisms and enhance public confidence in Nigeria’s democratic process.