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Garrison’ Democracy In Nigeria: The 2007 General Elections And The Prospects Of Democratic Consolidation, Shola J. Omotola

Shola J. Omotola Mr

This paper undertakes a critical analysis of the 2007 Nigeria’s general elections, with emphasis on the ‘garrison’ process and its implications for the consolidation of democracy. It is argued that garrisoned electoral processes represent a powerful source of democratic instability that can threaten the consolidation of democracy. The paper illustrates these processes and concludes that much will, however, depend on how ‘winners’ and ‘losers’ manage their successes and failures, respectively. The greatest threats to the consolidation of democracy in the aftermath of the garrisoned elections relate to the handling of post-election issues, especially election petitions, tribunals and court processes, by …