Abstract
The paper examined electoral mismanagement and failure of democratizing the Nigerian state due to the corruptible tendencies and practices inherent amongst the politicians. Relying majorly on qualitative approach, applying data collected from secondary sources, interrogation was carried out via content and historical analysis. Electoral malpractices in Nigeria have actually incapacitated the growth and institutionalization of the precepts of democracy depriving Nigerians of free, credible and fair elections needed for socio-economic and political development. Indeed, elections in Nigeria have failed to live up to the expectations due to various forms of electoral manipulations which have denied the country credible electoral results. Unhealthy inter-party/intra-party politics have equally accounted for the marred democratic foundation through the violation of the fundamental human rights of the people. The electoral misadventures from 1999 to 2023 reviewed in this paper demonstrated the most systematic process of scientific investigation. The paper unequivocally found that election manipulation in Nigeria hasresulted to the imposition of corrupt and illegitimate leaders who have no regard to the principles of democracy akin to good governance, rule of law, constitutionalism and fundamental human rights. The paper provides critical recommendations that would serve as antidote to the problems of electoral mismanagement in Nigeria to sustain the nascent democracy.