Democracy and Good Governance: Investigating How Demonetization of Elective Offices Can Produce Dividends of Democracy in Nigeria

Abstract

The concept of sharing dividends of democracy has always been examined from the angle of civil administrations and good governance in Nigeria. Not much thought has, however, been given to why dividends of democracy have always been elusive to most citizens who are outside elective and political offices. This study therefore seeks to examine how good governance built on democratic ethos can be sustained by the application of moderate and regulated funding of electoral activities. Political parties sensitize citizens on political participation and offer programmes and candidates capable of realizing them. As such, the study finds that on account of the elitist conception of Nigerian democracy, in terms of property ownership to vote and to be voted for, public governance is largely influenced by the mode of sponsorship of electoral activities. There is a distortion of political leadership processing such that citizens who genuinely opt to serve their constituents without ‘profit motives’ get disqualified. Consequently, the high cost of political campaigns to elective and political offices usher in candidates whom power brokers sponsor with motives of having profited from their financial commitments and political relevance through abuse of public offices. The study further finds that it has not been easy to identify and prosecute those who violate the law on spending limits on elections because of the difficulty in monitoring candidates’ election expenses. The high cost of election expenses and political activities then violates the ordinary citizen’s right to political participation and access to democratic returns. The study therefore argues that for the laws and regulations prohibiting a candidate and political party from accepting un-authorized monetary or other contributions to be effective, there should be a synergy among the three organs of government towards putting an end to bad governance. This facilitates transparency and efficiency in public space and this paves the way for the administration of dividends of democracy and enforcement of citizens’ welfare. The paper adopts doctrinal mode of investigation of primary and secondary materials as it recommends making political offices less attractive financially such that citizens opt to serve their constituencies without financial motivations.