The purpose of this study is examining the legitimacy and pitfalls of the 2021 national election held in Ethiopia. The study employed qualitative approaches in which primary data were obtained through interviews. Secondary data were also collected from literatures, country’s legal documents, decisions of government authorities of National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE), and from online media sources. The study indicated that the 2021 election held in Ethiopia was a procedural than a substantive as there was no impartial observation; the election was not inclusive as it banned political parties from the inception. The study concluded that vote buying, extortion, imprisonment of political parties and result incredibility were the main manifestations that belittled the national election. In overall, the research study recommends that the legal system has some flaws that should be remedied through modifications to the constitution and legal regulations. In terms of electoral administration, the NEBE experienced several shortcomings in terms of administering some aspects of the electoral process, particularly post-election operations. The Board must strengthen its management and maintain its independence in this regard.

It can be inferred that the aggregate nature of political parties appears to be a similitude of public officers’ disposition to issues of accountability and public trust. Consequently, we discuss issues of party and campaign financing as well as financial disclosure practices of political parties in Nigeria’s emerging democracy (fourth republic). We employed a desk research method using data from mainstream news, content from new and traditional media, as well as from other stakeholders. We found that it appears most political parties in Nigeria throughout the study period are not obliged to follow laid down rules, guidelines, and other statutory stipulations in the conduct of party financing, reporting and so on. This is due to both weak statutory and institutional oversight mechanisms. This paper provides delicate background to understanding issues of transparency and accountability in wider scenery of political and economic spaces.

Since the 1999 national elections which marked the return of Nigeria to the democratic system of government, there has been a significant number of cases of Election Related Violence (ERV). This phenomenon has dominated several of the elections conducted within the country since the return of democracy in 1999. Whilst it may not be entirely new, ERV has had dire impacts on most sectors responsible for viable growth and public image of the country. This study aimed at exploring the major causes of electoral violence and its attendant effects on life and property. This study made use of the mixed methods research in the gathering of information. A total of 500 randomly selected members of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) staff were interviewed and required to fill out questionnaires. A strong majority of respondents (71%) had witnessed Electoral Related Violence (ERV), only about 3% of the participants were excited about electoral activities as opposed to the 42% that were excited prior to witnessing ERV. Furthermore, the widespread lack of civic education, and desperation of electoral candidates and political parties were identified as some of the causes of electoral violence. This study provides a better understanding towards the causes and effects of ERV, furthermore, the findings from this research will help in the future planning and implementation of successful and violence -free elections as well as improving the public perceptions of the electoral process.

The study interrogates the forces behind political apathy in Nigeria with several factors identified to have been responsible for it, these include illiteracy, ignorance, a violent political environment and insecurities. A qualitative method was adopted to describe the exigencies of citizens’ alienated behaviour in the political and electoral process. The study premised that the higher the quality of people participating in politics, the greater the dividends of democracy enjoying by the citizenry. It also inferred that, political apathy if unchecked in the country will breed political loneliness and create irresponsible and unresponsive government thereby denying citizens the benefits of democratic governance. It recommended the need for electoral reform to accommodate the digitalisation of the voting system and diaspora voting to allow the marginalised group of the population and pave way for free, fair and credible elections.