DEMOCRACY AND ELECTORAL OUTCOMES: COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF NIGERIA AND IVORY COAST ELECTIONS

Abstract

An election is an integral and essential part of democracy, which means that without an election, the concept democracy is impossible and without international accepted democratic process of election, a geopolitical environment cannot be termed democratic system. The quality of such system has to be inclined with the rule of law, freedom of speech and association, free and fair democratic election exercise and some other human necessity that make life livable for every individual residing in such environment. However, most West African states have been confronted with electoral violence and political instability, which has always been caused by electoral malpractices or unjust electoral process. This study will examine the mechanism put in place by International and regional bodies like United Nation, African Union and ECOWAS in relation to the twin concepts, and how it aid lasting solution to the electoral crisis in Nigeria and Ivory Coast, through comparative analysis.

Keywords

• democracy
• election
• nigeria
• ivory coast (cote d’ivoire)
• united nation and regional bodies (african union and ecowas)