Key election stakeholders in the election process and their significance

What are key election stakeholders?

Voters, Candidates/Political Parties, Election Management Bodies, Media, Civil Society and Citizen Observers and International Observers.

Voters: 

Voters are central for the electoral process, as their will is the source of political power. By voting, they exercise their right to take part in the government of their country, that is guaranteed by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. There are a number of principles that apply to voters. First of all, everybody who is eligible to cast a vote should be able to do so. Moreover, each voter should have only one vote and each vote should have ab approximately equal power. These two considerations together make for the principle of universal and equal suffrage. Any limitation to the eligibility to vote needs to be clearly justified and proportionate. Voters should be able to cast their votes freely-this means without intimidation. The vote should also be secret and cast in a way that does not allow to trace it back to the voter. These principles together would allow voters to express their true preferences.

Media:

The media have a dual role to play during an election. Media are responsible for providing voters with adequate information about the election process so that they may make an informed choice at the ballot box. At the same time, journalists should act as "watchdogs" during an election process, to guarantee that elections are held in compliance with international standards and national legislation, and should report in case they discover any violations. State media have a particular responsibility for providing balanced information during the election process, and should guarantee equitable access and coverage to each competitor. At the same time, journalists and media must be afforded the necessary freedoms for carrying out their duties, and should not fear any retribution for reporting accurately on the election process.

Candidates/Political Parties:

Candidates and political parties are important actors in any election, as they are the ones competing for political power and who have the most "at stake". Candidates and political parties must have a level playing field during the registration process and campaign so as to compete on an equal basis. However, candidates and political parties also have responsibilities to treat one another with respect, compete by rules of fair play and refrain from any kind of hate speech or other incitement during the election campaign. Political parties sometimes sign voluntary codes of conduct, pledging to follow an agreed set of guidelines for ensuring a fair and clean campaign and election. On election day, candidates and political parties regularly send their representatives as "party poll-watchers" in the polling stations. Poll-watchers, also referred to as party or candidate agents, monitor the activities of election officials during voting and counting to ensure that procedures are correctly followed and to protect the votes of their supporters.

Election Management Bodies:

Election Management Bodies are those institutions that prepare and conduct the election process. Often known as "election commissions". Election Management Bodies operate at all levels-the national level, regional level and local level to administer the election process..., Regardless of how members are appointed, election management bodies must carry out elections in an impartial and independent manner-without influence from either political party or state interests.

The Judiciary:

The Judiciary may  be responsible for hearing election complaints and appeals.

The Police

The police are usually tasked to provide security for transfer of materials and election day operations. Such state institutions can also be considered as election stakeholders as they take on responsibilities for the conduct of democratic elections.

Civil Society and Citizen Observers:

The broad set of non-governmental actors known as "civil society" have a responsibility to protect the interests of ordinary citizens and promote the conduct of democratic elections. Often civil society groups conduct voter and civic education campaigns around elections to educate and motivate citizens about voting as well as about broader concepts of democracy, government and citizenship. Civil society organizations often conduct citizen non-partisan observation efforts, deploying observers to polling stations on election day in an attempt to protect the interests of citizens and offer a neutral assessment of the election process. Citizen observers are a useful source of information for international observers and can provide them with important information. However, the mandates for citizen and international observation are distinct and should always be kept separate.

International Observers:

International observers have their own important role to play in elections and are also therefore among the "election stakeholders". International observers also have responsibilities to abide by the national legislation of the host country and the code of conduct at all times.

Source: OSCE/ODIHR

 

Has Nigeria's President Bola Ahmed Tinubu delivered on his 'Renewed Hope Agenda? - Poverty and Corruption

President Tinubu Signs Controversial Electoral Bill into law with Ruling Party Majority, surrounded by Senate President, Godswill Akpabio and Principal Officers Of The Senate and House of Representatives. Photo: Google

As Nigeria is getting ready for the next Presidential elections in January 2026, Al jazeera's  Mehdi Hasan goes head-to-head with Daniel Bwala, President Tinubu's once 'staunch critic-turned-special Adviser on Media and Policy Communications, on the administration's record in office and where he stands on his past accusations against his current boss. "Nigeria's Bola Tinubu was elected on promises to tackle the nation's widespread violence and address two of its root causes: Poverty and corruption. But with the country going to the polls next year, has President Bola Tinubu delivered on his 'Renewed Hope Agenda?" Click on this link to watch full video: Nigeria: 'Renewed Hope' or Hoplessness?

Nigeria Politicians are not prepared to risk 'open elections'

 "Nigeria still possesses an opportunity to act before the next electoral cycle entrenches existing distrust. Electoral law should clearly define the legal status of electronic transmission, specifying when manual processes may be invoked and subjecting such exceptions to transparent and independently reviewable criteria. Real -time public access to electoral data should become standard practice because transparency loses much of its value when delayed"-Businessday Nigeria. Photo: Google.

Nigeria;s Senate decision to decline making real-time electronic transmission of results mandatory has created doubts over credible elections in 2027. Despite justification and reassurance from the government, the opposition and civil society groups have accused the government of bias and pursuing only reforms that make electoral victory easier for the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) Party with their legislative majorities. Real-time electronic transmission of results is a forward thinking choice and a necessity in the modern era. It offers an innovative practical solution rather than relying on outdated methods employed by election institutions to manipulate election outcomes in favour of the ruling party. The opposition ADC-Party has condemned President Tinubu's  assent to the controversial Electoral Act and accused him of signing "death warrant of credible elections". The opposition ADC-Party said, "the extraordinary haste with which the amendment was passed and signed confirmed widespread suspicion that the government harboured deep-seethed doubts about submitting itself to a truly transparent and competitive process..., by refusing to slow down, listen, and meaningfully engage the concerns of the citizens, President Tinubu and the APC-led National Assembly have shown that they are afraid of what the Nigerian People will do to them in a free and fair election, and they have reacted by demonstrating outright disregard for the very citizens whose mandate sustains their democratic authority"(Businessday NG). Opposition political parties in Nigeria have rejected the Electoral Act 2026, calling it 'Anti-Democratic.' Meanwhile, the new Independent National Electoral Comission(INEC), Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan says 'no election anywhere in the world is flawless'. According to Businessday NG, he acknowledged that while perfection may be unattainable, public expectations of the commission remain high and there must be no room for avoidable errors in the conduct of elections. Political leaders seek to manipulate electoral process and influence election outcomes. This erodes citizen trust in elections and creates conditions for conflict and instability.  Uche Okeke.

Incumbents in Nigeria are always afraid of competitive elections

 "It's amazing how much panic one honest man can spread among a multitude of hypocrites"- Thomas Sowell.

As Nigeria prepares for Presidential elections in January 2027, one of the popular candidates, H. E . Peter Obi is systematically being bullied with political violence by the ruling party to undermine his chances of participating in the elections. In July 2025, Governor Monday Okpebholo surprised the nation by warning former Labour Party Presidential candidate, H.E. Peter Obi against visiting his Edo State for political events and declared that anything that happened to him, "he will take it". Barely seven months after such threatening remarks, suspected political thugs attacked H.E. Peter Obi and his party supporters in Benin City, the Edo State Capital during a pre-election political engagement. According to Punch Newspaper, H.E. Peter Obi and his political associates escaped unhurt, but their vehicles were riddled with bullets, windshields smashed. the ADC's party leader in Edo State, Odigie-Oyegun's gate reportedly 'bore the scars of gunfire'. The ADC secretariat in the state was left in disarray-"furniture overturned, injuries claimed, chaos reigning". Similarly, the ruling party Governors of Benue and Akwa-Ibom states had also threatened H. E. Peter Obi against visiting their states without their permission for political events vowing not to guarantee his safety. Last week, H.E. Peter Obi told his supporters in a political event that "the ruling federal government of Nigeria does not want him to be a candidate of any political party in Nigeria", this should be a huge cause for concern. Lawful contestation is inalienable right, not the prerogative of the incumbent. Elections are crucial to achieving better democratic governance and contestation is a very essential part of this process, so seeking to undermine it or diminish wide range of individuals, groups and political parties from contesting elections is tyrannical and a recipe for disaster. Elections provide the only opportunity for citizens to choose effective leadership in a democracy by guaranteeing- 'contestation, deliberation, participation and electoral justice'.

 Furthermore, the former National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress, (ADC), Chief, Ralph Nwosu, has also accused President Bola Tinubu's administration of trying to use Government institutions as weapons against opposition. He said this in an interview with Arise TV News on Thursday 26 February 2026. He called for responsible governance, prioritizing  citizens' welfare and a halt to unnecessary political conflict, noting that the African Democratic Congress-ADC is actively 'avoiding causing tension in the country'. The future of Nigeria depends on the next elections. Today, the challenge of supporting democracy and elections has increased around the world, so key stakeholders must become vigilant, resist and pressure incumbents who seek to destabilise their countries by using political violence to make future electoral victories easier. Uche Okeke. London.

Is Nigeria's Electoral System Ready For 2027 Elections?

2025 CONFAB: Constitution Amendment Cannot Solve Nigeria's Problems - Oz...

No Matter the Amendments, Current Nigerian Constitution Cannot Take Us F...

Renowned constitutional lawyer and Senior Advocate Of Nigeria, Professor Mike Ozekhome, has renewed calls for the complete replacement of Nigeria's 1999 dictatorship era constitution, describing it as an "illegitimate document" incapable of addressing the country's challenges. Speaking during an interview on Arise Television News, Professor Ozekhome dismissed ongoing constitutional amendment efforts as futile, insisting that no amount of tweaking can fix what he described as fundamentally flawed foundation. In his words; "the issue is not about amending the constitution. A bad, illegitimate document that never proceeded from the people through a popular plebiscite or referendum can never be the product of the people. I have said it again and again, that even one million amendments to the present constitution cannot solve it..., we are still talking about constitutional amendment when we should be talking about introducing a brand new constitution that reflects our diversity as a nation, reflects our multi-religious, linguistic inclination". Furthermore, he said, the current constitution lacks legitimacy and moral authority because it was imposed by the military without the conscent of the Nigerian people. He concluded , that the country needs a complete constitutional reset to cleanse itself of its structural ailments. It cannot take us forward because, one it operates a unitary system of government, all the provisions, not a federal system of government. Two, it dispossesses the people of their economic, social, political and cultural rights. Three, it is too heavy, on the side of wastages and leakages which makes Nigeria today use about 70% to 80% of our national resources to service recurrent expenditure and public debts, leaving only 20% to 30% for capital expenditure. "No nation can grow like that. We are not going to grow like that. So, when we are talking about a constitution like this being amended, you are really pursuing shadows where you should pursue substance. Unless Nigeria discards its current constitution in favour of a truly people-driven document that reflects its ethnic, cultural and religious diversity, it will remain stuck in a cycle of dysfunction and stagnation. No doubt, a new constitution that has the will of the whole society is one sure way to guarantee peace and development in Nigeria, unfortunately, there is no commitment from the political elite to make it happen. This is Nigeria's true dilemma. Uche Okeke.