Election, particularly its competitive variant, represents an essential ingredient in the democratic process especially within the liberal democratic paradigm. It cannot be overemphasized that free, fair, credible and well organized elections constitute a critical desideratum for the sustenance and consolidation of democracy in any society.
Perhaps, with the exception of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, the history of competitive elections has been anything but outstanding. There have been electoral narratives of elite factionalism, ideologically bereft political parties, inept, incompetent, poorly equipped and meddlesome electoral umpire, rigging and snatching of ballot boxes, electoral violence as well as judicial corruption in terms of post-election adjudication.
Specifically, these electoral vices were so pronounced during the 2007 elections that the beneficiary of the electoral heist set up the Justice Mohammadu Uwais Electoral Reform Commission to examine the various aspects of Nigeria’s electoral process and suggest recommendations for improvement. It is regrettable that the major recommendations of the Commission were not implemented either preparatory to or during the conduct of the 2011 elections. However, it is incontrovertible that the conduct of the 2011 elections recorded some improvements from the previously organized elections. Even the International community assessed the 2011 elections as “successful” with “substantial improvements” over the 2007 elections which were fraught with huge irregularities and violence. In spite of that, a lot still needs to be desired from the umpire and other stakeholders in the organization and conduct of free, fair and credible elections in Nigeria.
It is in realization of the foregoing that the Department of Sociology, University of Lagos in collaboration with the Independent National Electoral Commission will hold its Distinguished Annual Lecture and Conference as follows:
DATE: Thursday, August 21 to Saturday, August 23, 2014
TIME: 9 a.m. daily
VENUE: Main Auditorium/Department of Creative Arts Complex, UNILAG, Akoka
THEME: Stakeholders and the Electoral Process in Nigeria: Review of 2011 Elections; Projections for 2015 and Beyond
GUEST LECTURER: Professor Attahiru Jega, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission.
The lecture/conference will provide a platform for the review of the roles of all stakeholders in the 2011 elections, with a view to making projections for the 2015 and subsequent elections in Nigeria The Department of Sociology therefore invites abstracts from suitably qualified individuals in the following thematic areas:
1. INEC and other election management bodies
I. Public perception and expectations of INEC
II. Institutional /legal frameworks for credible elections in Nigeria
III. Funding and independence of INEC
IV. Assessment of INEC’s roles in past electoral processes
V. Voter registration and continuous voter education (CVE)
VI. Ad-hoc staff: control and credibility of elections
VII. Use of ICT in the electoral process: issues and prospects
VIII. Conflict management, litigations and ADR in the electoral process
2. Political parties and the party system
i. Political parties, party structures and internal democracy
ii. Funding of political parties in Nigeria
iii. Political parties, ideologies and manifestoes
iv. Godfatherism, money and party politics in Nigeria
v. Inter and intra party relations; party merger and alliances
vi. Ruling parties/ opposition parties and credible elections
3. Government agencies
i. Electoral process and the apparatuses of the state
ii. Roles and functions of government agencies in elections
iii. The roles of Federal/State/Local Governments in the conduct of elections
iv. The power of incumbency and credible elections
v. Budgetary allocations and credible elections
4. Security and the electoral process
i. Understanding the nexus between elections and national security
ii. Militarization of the electoral process in Nigeria
iii. The Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies in the electoral process in Nigeria
iv. Security challenges and 2015 elections in Nigeria
v. Security and safety of election material and electoral personnel
5. Electorate
i. Voter education and grass root mobilization of the electorate
ii. Government performance and public confidence in the electoral process
iii. Political culture and electoral participation
iv. The Nigerian electorate and electoral malpractices
v. Voter participation/ apathy and credible elections in Nigeria
vi. Corruption and the electoral process in Nigeria
vii. Gender, politics and the electoral process
6. International Partners and Observers
i. Roles of international partners in the electoral process
ii. Roles of observers in elections
iii. Developing rules of engagement for observers.
iv. Developing partnership between Nigerian and foreign civil society organizations for elections
7. Media
i. The roles of the media as the 4th estate of the realm in the electoral process
ii. Ethical issues in election coverage and reportage
iii. Opinion polls and election manipulation
iv. Social media, citizenship engagement and the electoral process in Nigeria
v. FOI Act and safety of media practitioners in the electoral process
8. Judiciary
i. Independence and funding of the Judiciary
ii. The role of the judiciary in the electoral process
iii. Petitions, litigations and the electoral process in Nigeria
iv. Election tribunals and electoral mandates
9. Civil Society Organizations (CSOs)
i. The role of CSOs in the electoral process
ii. CSOs and election monitoring
iii. CSOs and monitoring of democratic institutions
iv. Advocacy, accountability and good governance
v. Voter education, public enlightenment and grass root mobilization
vi. Partnership, facilitation/ collaboration with other stakeholders
10. Other stakeholders
i. The electoral process and the academia
ii. Youths, politics and the electoral process
iii. Women and the electoral process
iv. Informal social groups and elections e.g. NURTW, market men & women associations, ethnic militias, etc.
v. Pressure groups and the electoral process
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
Scholars, interested individuals and groups, politicians, bureaucrats, media practitioners, activists, electoral observers, and other stakeholders are invited to submit abstract of not more than 250 words indicating title of paper, author(s) name, institutional affiliation or relevant address where applicable, telephone numbers and email address. Abstract should be sent in electronic format not later than July 18, 2014 (Please indicate the thematic area under which you want your paper to be categorized) to:
- Dr. ‘FunmiBammeke+2348052613685: funmibammeke@yahoo.co.uk
- Dr. Bola Amaike +2348053064761: bolaamaike@yahoo.com
- Dr. Dele Ashiru +2348026274712: ashirudele@yahoo.co.uk
Guidelines for the preparation of papers will be communicated to authors of short-listed abstracts and full papers of accepted abstracts should be submitted on or before August 18, 2014.
Yours’ truly will be there to give the event live coverage.
