INTRODUCTION

Politics is about contestation for power. In the modern day democracy, this contestation for power results
in institutional arrangements for free and fair contestation through elections. Elections are the key
components in ensuring democracy as they enhance citizens’ participation and also government
accountability. Electoral system is one such arrangement to smoothen the functioning of democracy.
Electoral system is means or arrangements through which elections are formally structured. There are
various types of electoral systems across the countries. Due to the diversity in its typology, electoral system
is a significant area of study in the field of comparative politics. Among many prevalent electoral systems,
there are three popular types of electoral systems: First Past the Post (FPTP), the Proportional System (PR)
and the Mixed System.

ELECTORAL SYSTEM
An electoral system or voting system is a set of rules that determine how elections
and referendums are conducted and how their results are determined. Electoral systems are used in politics
to elect governments, while non-political elections may take place in business, non-profit organizations and
informal organizations. These rules govern all aspects of the voting process: when elections occur, who is
allowed to vote, who can stand as a candidate, how ballots are marked and cast, how the ballots are
counted, how votes translate into the election outcome, limits on campaign spending, and other factors that
can affect the result. Political electoral systems are defined by constitutions and electoral laws, are typically
conducted by election commissions, and can use multiple types of elections for different offices.
Some electoral systems elect a single winner to a unique position, such as prime minister, president or
governor, while others elect multiple winners, such as members of parliament or boards of directors. When
electing a legislature, areas may be divided into constituencies with one or more representatives. Voters
may vote directly for individual candidates or for a list of candidates put forward by a political
party or alliance. There are many variations in electoral systems, with the most common systems
being first-past-the-post voting, block voting, the two-round (runoff) system, proportional
representation and ranked voting. Some electoral systems, such as mixed systems, attempt to combine the
benefits of non-proportional and proportional systems.

Technically defined, electoral systems are the mechanism by which thepreferences of people are translated
into seats of the representativeinstitutions of democratic set up of any country. Most narrow definition
ofelectoral system denotes the set of rules that structure how votes are cast andget converted into seats for
any representative assembly in a democraticsetup. At the most fundamental level, electoral systems are
designed to translate the votes into seats to be won by parties and candidates.In thisprocess the key variable
used are as following- electoral formula (plurality,proportional or mixed systems). This division of
electoral system makes thetypology of electoral system more clear. There are various debates
andcontroversies regarding electoral systems. The choice made for an electoralsystem is one of the most
crucial institutional decisions to be made by anycountry in democratic framework. This choice not only
influences the processand nature of representation but also has decisive impact on the politicalfuture of the
country. It is interesting to note that most of the countrieswhatever the electoral system has been once
chosen often remain constant. Pippa Norris (1997) proposes that electoral formulas determine the manner
inwhich votes are counted and on this basis she underlines following four groupswithin the electoral
system

An electoral system, also known as an election system or voting system, is a set of rules and procedures
used to conduct elections and determine the winners of political offices or positions. The electoral system
defines how votes are cast, counted, and converted into seats or positions of power. It plays a crucial role in
shaping the outcomes of elections and can have a significant impact on the representation of different
political parties or candidates.

There are various types of electoral systems used around the world, and the choice of system can have a
profound effect on the nature of a country's democracy and its political dynamics. Some common electoral
systems include:

 First-Past-the-Post (FPTP): In this system, voters select one candidate, and the candidate with the
most votes wins, regardless of whether they receive an absolute majority (more than 50%). FPTP is
often used in countries like the United Kingdom and Canada.
 Proportional Representation (PR): PR systems aim to allocate seats in proportion to the percentage
of votes a political party receives. There are various forms of PR, including party-list proportional
representation and mixed-member proportional representation. PR systems are used in countries like
Germany, Sweden, and New Zealand.
 Single Transferable Vote (STV): STV is a preferential voting system where voters rank candidates
in order of preference. It's used in some countries and regions, such as Ireland and parts of Australia.
 Mixed Electoral Systems: These systems combine elements of both FPTP and PR. For example, in a
mixed-member proportional system (MMP), voters cast two ballots—one for a candidate in a single-
 member district (FPTP) and one for a political party. MMP is used in Germany and several other
countries.
 Majoritarian Systems: These systems require candidates to win an absolute majority (more than
50%) of the votes to be elected. If no candidate achieves this in the first round, a runoff election may
be held. Majoritarian systems are used in some presidential elections, like in France.

FEATURES OF NIGERIA ELECTORAL SYSTEM

The Nigerian electoral system has undergone several changes and reforms over the years to enhance its
credibility, transparency, and fairness. Here are some of the key features of the Nigerian electoral system:
 Federal System: Nigeria is a federal republic with a complex electoral structure. It conducts
elections at various levels, including the federal, state, and local government levels. This multi-
tiered system reflects the country's federal structure and diversity.

 Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC): INEC is the electoral management body
responsible for organizing and conducting elections in Nigeria. It is expected to operate
independently and impartially to ensure the fairness of the electoral process.

 Regular Elections: Nigeria holds elections on a regular basis for various political offices, including
the presidency, governorships, national and state legislatures, and local government councils. The
presidential election is held every four years, while gubernatorial, legislative, and local government
elections occur at different intervals.

 Voter Registration: Eligible Nigerian citizens must register to vote before participating in
elections. Voter registration is an essential step in ensuring that only qualified individuals can cast
their ballots.

 Use of Biometric Technology: INEC has introduced biometric voter registration and authentication
systems to enhance the accuracy of voter registration and prevent multiple voting.

 Political Parties: Nigeria has a multi-party system, and numerous political parties participate in
elections. However, the dominance of a few major parties has been a common feature in Nigerian
politics.
 First-Past-the-Post (FPTP) Electoral System: Nigeria primarily uses the FPTP electoral system
for most elections. In this system, the candidate with the most votes in a single-member
constituency wins the seat, regardless of whether they receive an absolute majority.

 Presidential System: Nigeria operates a presidential system of government, which means that the
president is the head of state and government. The president is elected separately from the National
Assembly, which consists of the Senate and House of Representatives.

 Challenges with Electoral Integrity: Nigeria's electoral system has faced challenges related to
voter intimidation, electoral violence, irregularities, and allegations of fraud. Efforts have been
made to address these issues through legal reforms and increased security measures.

 Electoral Tribunals: Nigeria has established electoral tribunals to adjudicate election-related

disputes. This provides a legal avenue for candidates and political parties to challenge election
results they believe are unfair or flawed.

 Youth and Women's Participation: There have been efforts to increase the participation of youth
and women in Nigerian politics. Special provisions, such as quotas for women in the legislature,
have been introduced to address gender imbalances.

 Electronic Voting: Nigeria has experimented with electronic voting systems in some elections to
improve the efficiency and transparency of the electoral process. These efforts aim to reduce
manual errors and enhance the credibility of the results.