“Characterising Political Systems and Regimes, Elections Governance, and Post-Election Conflicts in African Countries: Focus on Nigeria’s Federalism and Its INEC and Cameroon’s Centralism and Its ELECAM”

Masumbe SP

Published on: 2021-03-28

Abstract

The paper characterises political systems, their ruling regimes and elections governing organs in African countries, to discern, if these supra and sub-supra structures are purveyors of post-electoral conflicts, insecurity and instability in this continent, more than elsewhere in the world. Focusing on Nigeria’s federalism and its INEC and Cameroon’s centralism and its ELECAM, the paper argues that, in most countries in the world, political systems, their ruling regimes and elections governing organs, incarnate citizens’ well-being and substratum for democracies. Given the incessant post-elections’ contestations and extra-judicial killings, allegedly prodded by these structures in Africa, people label these structures as asphyxiators rather than promoters of peace, stability and democracy. Nevertheless, Nigeria and Cameroon lay claim to peace, stability and democracy, touting their respective political systems, ruling regimes and elections governing bodies as proofs. Using the structural-functional theory and historical research method, I bid discerning the veracity of these labels and claims