Victor Ezeja
Founding Partner, Nextier, Patrick Okigbo III, will host a discussion on the book “How to Rig an Election” by Dr Nic Cheeseman, a Professor of Democracy at the University of Birmingham, on Wednesday, 16th October.
According to the organisers, the event, which will be held via Zoom at 3 pm West Africa Time, is set to drive an incisive discussion on the implications of issues raised in Dr Cheeseman’s book for democracies across the world and the need to focus on adopting democratic processes that enhance development.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelIn the book, Cheeseman, who is also the founding director of the Centre for Elections, Democracy, Accountability and Representation (CEDAR) argues that while overt dictatorships are on the decline, across the world, there appears to be what he described as “counterfeit democracies,” as political actors in various regimes appear to hold democratic elections to maintain legitimacy but engage in behind-the-scenes manipulation of democratic processes to secure their grip on power.
Election rigging has grave implications for the consolidation of democracy and good governance. Cheeseman’s insights are backed by substantive evidence. For instance, the 2024 Freedom House report noted that 52 countries have witnessed eroding political rights and civil liberties, with election manipulations contributing to this decline. Nigeria is sadly, one such country.
Giving a foretaste of the event, the organisers said: “The discussion will focus on moving to dev-ocracy, a word Okigbo coined to indicate a state where democracy delivers development.”
“The conversation will explore critical questions such as: What factors have fueled the rise of authoritarianism and counterfeit democracies globally, particularly in Africa? What strategies do authoritarian leaders use to rig elections and maintain control? How do these regimes exploit elections to bolster legitimacy while undermining democratic governance? Most importantly, what practical solutions can safeguard electoral integrity and help countries transition from “counterfeit democracies” to genuine democracies?”
The programme, “Development Discourse,” is a Nextier’s public policy discourse initiative aimed at enhancing political stability, peace and sustainable development in Nigeria and Africa generally.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with seven years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Master's degree in Mass Communication.
