THE 2022 ELECTORAL ACT AND THE FUTURE OF DEMOCRACY IN NIGERIA: AN EVALUATION OF SECTION 84(12) AND SECTION 64(5)

This study examined the 2022 Electoral Act and the future of democracy in Nigeria using section 84(12) and 64(5). The objectives of the study were to unravel the factors that led to the introduction of 2022 Electoral Act in Nigeria as well as to examine the relationship between 2022 Electoral Act and the future of democracy in Nigeria. The study adopted the descriptive methods of investigation in study the problem. The analysis of the study was anchored on elite theory of politics. The findings of the study revealed that the Electoral Act 2022 is likely to have a strong impact on Nigeria's democracy. It was further noted that weak Electoral Act will lead to election irregularities such as falsification of figures, illegal printing of voters cards and snatching of ballot boxes, etc. The study concluded that the 2022 Electoral Act will help to keep the Nigerian electoral process up to standard practice with that of other democratic countries all over the world. The study recommended that the government should ensure that the new technological devices is provided to all election units and they should function adequately. Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should ensure that political parties and their members abide by the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution, the Electoral Act, and the political parties code of conduct, particularly to those provisions that relate to nomination of candidates during party primaries.