Election Rigging and Vote-Buying: A Challenge to the Nigerian Democratic Process

ract Election rigging and vote buying have taken new dimensions in the current electoral process in Nigeria. Election rigging and vote buying have now become sophisticated interventions in the Nigerian democratic process with the politicians, political thugs, party officials and other interest groups involved in the acts. What is particularly worrisome is the brazen nature election rigging and vote buying have assumed in recent times and the grave danger it poses to democracy. These political factors have threatened the stability and good governance of Nigeria. This paper examines the challenges election rigging and vote buying pose to the democratic process in Nigeria. It discusses the different mechanisms of election rigging and vote buying with focus on the 2015 and 2019 elections. It concludes with recommendations on ways of checking these election difficulties.