ELECTION SECURITY IN NIGERIA AND THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

By Dr. Akin Olawale Oluwadayisi, PhD, Olumide Awoyemi, LL.M, Boluwaji Awi, Esq.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Democracy, the civilised form of human government, has become a fruitful environment for political gladiators. The electoral process involves multiple stakeholders, including the electoral commission, political parties, lawmakers, voters, security officers, election observers, and the press. The security agents play a challenging duty because they are involved in all stages. Similarly, security agents are critical in maintaining a peaceful society and preventing a breakdown of law and order that could occur before, during, or after the election. This paper examines the constitutional and statutory functions of security agents in the electoral processes of Nigeria and the United States of America. The scope of the work will cover all the various aspects of election security in the two jurisdictions.
Using primary and secondary legal sources, the study is carried out according to the doctrinal method. Acts of Parliament, laws, statutes, and the constitutions of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the United States of America are the main sources. Case law, government documents, academic textbooks, magazines, newspapers, and internet resources are examples of secondary sources.
The general introduction is covered in chapter one, followed by chapters two and three on the concept and classification of security agents in Nigeria and the United States, the constitutional and statutory roles of security agents in Nigeria, and an analysis of their involvement in the Nigerian electoral process in chapter four. The chapter discusses the function of security personnel in the US and their importance during the electoral process. While Chapter 6 explores the ramifications of electoral violence in general, Chapter 5 looks at how electoral violence is frequently perpetrated and reported during the conduct of elections in Nigeria and the US. Chapter Seven addresses the effects and implications of election violence in all sectors of Nigeria and the US.
Chapter 8, which is devoted to strategic recommendations and suggestions for improvement, serves as the study’s conclusion. In order to increase public trust in the election processes in Nigeria and the US, the chapter suggests actions that electoral umpires in the two jurisdictions might do to best involve security personnel.

Brief Biography of the Editors

Dr. Akin Olawale Oluwadayisi, PhD, LL.M, LL.B, B.L, MCIArb. & a Notary Public is a researcher, legal consultant, Arbitrator, Notary Public, and Senior Lecturer whose interest areas are Electoral Law and Justice, Public International Law, Criminal Law, Constitutional Law, and Corporate Governance. He was called to the Nigerian Bar in 2009 and holds a Master’s and PhD degree in law from the University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria with a speciality in electoral law and justice. He is a beneficiary of the 2018 Chief Olu Akinkugbe Fellowship Award on Business Law in Africa and a Fellow of the Centre for Comparative Law in Africa (CCLA), University of Cape Town, South Africa. He is also a Fellow, of the Institute of Policy Management and Development (Nigeria). He has also served as an adjunct Assessor and external Examiner with the Nigerian Law School, Abuja for 7 years. He was the Acting Head of the Department, of Jurisprudence and International Law, at Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko and a Visiting Senior Lecturer at Elizade University Ilara-Mokin, Ondo State, Nigeria. He is the founder of the Law Firm, Benakol Consulting and National Coordinator, of the Centre for Electoral Research and Legal Studies, Abuja. He has published widely and internationally and chaired panels in many countries in Africa, Canada and the United States.

Olumide Awoyemi, LL.M, BL, LL.B., BSc., holds a Master of Laws degree in Commercial Law from Illinois University, United States. The was called to the Nigerian Bar in 2022 and has a Bachelor of Laws from Adekunle Ajasin University and a Bachelor degree in Accounting from the University of Ado-Ekiti (Now Ekiti State University). He is also qualified to represent clients in the United States of America and Nigeria.
As the Principal partner of the Firm, he possesses experience in advising corporate bodies and individuals on immigration matters including visa and residence, passport and representing clients before immigration judges and authorities. He possesses significant knowledge in corporate practice and taxation considering his background education as an accountant. He has worked on diverse transactions including project finance, acquisitions and divestments, power projects and other infrastructure development, strategic investments, international, corporate finance and alternative funding structures. Olumide is a member of the Nigerian Bar Association and Chartered Institute of Arbitrators

Boluwaji Awi, Esq. BL, LL.B.(AICMC) was called to the Nigerian Bar in 2022 and has a Bachelor of Law at Adekunle Ajasin University. He is the principal partner at Goodfate Legal, Lagos, his areas of practice include Corporate Law, Taxation, Bankruptcy and Insolvency, Matrimonial matters, Election Petition, and Arbitration amongst others. He is a member of the Nigerian Bar Association, Institute of Chartered Mediator and Conciliator and Member of Nigerian Bar Association Section on Business Law.