NİJERYA'DA SEÇİMLERİN ASKERİLEŞTİRİLMESİ: DEMOKRATİK BÜYÜME İÇİN BİR BANE

Öz

1999'da demokrasiye dönüşten bu yana, Nijerya'daki seçimler demokratikleşme sürecinin ayrılmaz bir parçası ve iyi yönetişim için gerekli bir egzersiz oldu. Bununla birlikte, birbirini izleyen seçimlerde, seçim propagandasının prosedürleri ve dönemleri, genellikle, uzun ve zorlu demokratik kazanımların geri alınmasına önemli ölçüde katkıda bulunan seçim şiddeti tehditleri ve riskleriyle dolu olmuştur. Ayrıca, görevdeki liderler, bazı Afrika hükümetleri tarafından demokratik olmayan uygulamaları empoze etmek için seçim süreçlerini kötüye kullanarak, muhalefet adaylarını ve onların destek tabanını sindirmek için devlet gücünü kullanmakla suçlanıyor. Bu makale, Nijerya'daki seçimleri etkilemede ordunun rolüne odaklanmaktadır. Örnek olay incelemesi olarak Nijerya'daki 2019 ve 2023 genel seçimlerini kullanıyor. Bu makale, seçimlerde ordunun kullanılmasının yalnızca anayasal bir temelden yoksun olmakla kalmayıp, aynı zamanda seçim şiddetine, ölümlere ve mülke zarar vermeye katkıda bulunduğunu tartışmaktadır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Nijerya
• Demokrasi
• Askeri
• Seçimler

MILITARIZATION OF ELECTIONS IN NIGERIA: A BANE OF DEMOCRATIC GROWTH

Öz

Since the return to democracy in 1999, elections in Nigeria have been an integral component of the democratization process and a necessary exercise for good governance. However, in successive elections, the procedures and periods of electioneering have often been fraught with threats and risks of electoral violence, which has significantly contributed to undoing long and hard-fought democratic gains. Furthermore, incumbent leaders have been accused of using state power to intimidate opposition candidates and their support base, with election processes being abused by some African governments to impose undemocratic practices. This paper focuses on the role of the military in influencing elections in Nigeria. It uses the 2019 and 2023 general elections in Nigeria as case studies. This paper argues that using the military in elections not only lacks a constitutional basis but contributes to electoral violence, deaths and destruction of property.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Nigeria
• Military
• Election
• Democracy

Kaynakça

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11. Section 29(3) of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended)
12. Stella Eneche, Available online Retrieved 20/07/2019 https://businessday.ng/ng-election/article/we-have-deployed-95-percent-personnel-for-elections-army/
13. UNDP (United Nations Development Programme), (2002). Deepening Democracy in a Fragmented World, Human Development Report, Oxford: Oxford University Press, p.4
14. Universal Declaration of Human Rights (adopted 10 December 1948) Art 21, para.3
15. Walter James Shepard. (1935), ‘Socialism, Fascism, and Democracy’, 180 The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, pp. 94-101 https://www.msn.com/en-xl/africa/africa-top-stories/nigerias-electoral-body-cautions-buhari-atiku/ar-BBTPCSe?li=BBKhQr3. Assessed on 20/07/2019