Abstract
This paper makes a prognosis of the impact of security agencies in election management in Nigeria with particular reference to reforms made during the Yardua/Jonathan administration (2007-2015). Election has been recognized as one of the salient determinant of a quality democratic process throughout the globe. The role of security agencies are crucial to the success of election because credible election requires among others a high degree of neutrality, alertness and commitment of the security personnel in maintaining law and order, and ensuring security of voters, candidates and election materials during and after the electoral process. This study argued that the elections in Nigeria however continue to suffer wanton abuses and gross violation of this standard as security agencies are observed in some cases not to be neutral but showed open support for candidates. It was further observed that in some recorded cases security personnel are accused of conniving with party thugs and gangsters in their nefarious act of rigging, victimization and intimidation of political opponent during general elections. On the basis of this, the following conclusion were made; that the politicization of security institutions by the ruling elite, the deployment of inexperience security personnel, paucity of security information on the side of the security agencies to respond to security threat as at when due, problem of ineffective information communication technology among others are the major challenges faced in effective management of the electoral processes in Nigeria’s fourth republic. The population of the study consisted of the entire staff of INEC, Security Agencies and the general public. Data for the study was collected through secondary sources. Based on the findings of the study and the conclusions drawn, it was recommended among other things that there is need for the sensitization of the security agencies as to what their role should be in an election and their status as a neutral party in the process.