Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: Nigeria's 2007 General Elections And The Judiciary : A Beacon Of Hope For Sustainable Democracy In Nigeria ?

Abstract
Some may wonder whether the time is appropriate for discussing in a dispassionate manner, the 2007 general elections in Nigeria for one thing, the dust has not yet completely settled as there are still cases before the Nigerian judiciary on the election of some of the candidates even at the highest level. In effect, more revelations are still expected to surface in the open courts, which may affect our judgment and may lead to questioning the extent to which we can speak on what actually happened in the 2007 general elections. Be that as it may, the 2007 elections have been held, both local and international observers of the election were critical of the processes leading to the elections, the imperfections that characterized the elections and of course, the outcome of the elections. While in some cases immediate remedies could be applied politicaly, in most cases, consistent and sustained judicial process ensued in order to prevent their reocurrence in future elections.

Good governance and political stability are logical essential ingredient for sustainable democratic growth and development. Perhaps, the most basic and important principle of good governance is that a nation's political institution be democratic. However, since Nigeria became an independent country on October 1, 1960, conducting a free and fair election remains a goal yet to be attained. From the federal election after independence in 1964 to that of 2007 electioneering in Nigeria is usually characterized by irregularities. The 2007 which was the General Elections were held with a lot of doubts and pessimism across the federation.

Against this backdrop and given the federalist nature of the Nigerian state, the judiciary was perceived as the most strategically placed institution and a beacon of hope for sustainable democracy in Nigeria. Whether the judiciary lived up to this expectation or not is the focus of this paper.Both the quantitative and qualitative research methods that employ the primary and secondary sources of data will be adopted in this work.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: At both the national and international levels, there is a growing academic interest in the level of participation of women in politics. The ‘third wave’ of globalisation emphasizes the issue of democratization, women and human rights which dominate world interests in Africa. African women, especially in Nigeria are exploited and marginalized. Despite the fact that women constitute about 49% of the total population, they are discriminated against in the political process. The marginalization of Nigerian women is more pronounced in the democratization processes. Women in Nigeria constitute more than two - thirds of the country’s 70% adult non literate population while they hold less than 5% of the important decision making positions. The present national assembly in Nigeria has an appallingly low average of 0.05% of women in both houses.

This limited conception of the political relevance of women is responsible for their political marginalization. While it is important to increase the number of women in public offices, the more fundamental question raised is about the character of democracy in Nigeria. Is it gender sensitive?

Against this backdrop, this study discusses the issue of women involvement in politics in Nigeria. It examines the extent to which, women participate in party politics in Nigeria as well as the extent (or otherwise) to which they are respected and accepted as equal stakeholders in the democratization project. The aim is to establish the continuities and changes obtainable in the struggles undertaken by women in the recent past targeted at altering the male - partisan political space. This will be done through an empirical analysis of women participation in decision making policies in different segments, sectors and parts of the Nigerian state.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: President Obasanjo?s second civilian administration, launched an ambitious program of ?homegrown? economic reforms that have drawn the praise from the international lending institutions. Nigeria, recently paid off its multi-billion dollar Paris Club debt, thus becoming the first African nation to settle with its official lenders. The debt repayment, a key part of the economic reform plan also include a program of privatization, tax reform, greater transparency and anti-corruption measures designed to boost the economy and attract foreign investors. This paper will provide an opportunity to critically assess the Nigeria?s national economic empowerment and development strategy (NEEDS) in order to analyze the strengths as well as the deficiencies of the current economic reform programs. While optimists of the reform agenda assert that the economic reforms are delivering freedom and prosperity and thereby structurally transforming the socioeconomic conditions of the country, pessimists have taken a far more cautious view about the popularity of the market reforms or are even skeptical about the suitability and depth of the reforms.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: Abstract: An emergent feature of politics in Nigeria is the phenomenon of godfatherism in the leadership of political parties. As a result of the political class’s corruption of the electoral process and governmental structures, electoral politics and state power are skewed towards satisfying the self-regarding interests of the dominant political mentors otherwise known as ‘political godfathers’. Relying on their wealth, they secure party nomination for candidates of their choice, sponsor their election, including manipulating the electoral process. This paper is intended to examine critically the phenomenon of political godfatherism in Nigeria and its implications for the people’s clamour for democracy. It is also intended to proffer logically derived solutions to the problem of godfatherism and democracy in Nigeria and other developing countries.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: The paper intends to take a critical look at the validity of the application or operaion of the Sharia Laws in the wold in general and Nigeria in particular. The Sharia Law ids supposed to be operated on the same basis as the Customary Laws system in Nigeria. Which means,that the Sharia Law like the Customary Laws to be valid must first of all be subjected to the test of validity under the ( repugnancy doctrine ).The repugnancy doctrine provides that for a rule of custom or Sharia Law as the case may be, to be valid it must be satisfied that it accords with the principle of natural justice, equityand good conscience and by extension the basic fundamental human rights provisions.The doctrine has until recently being the basis of ascertaining the validity of application of the Sharia Law in Nigeria as contained in the Penal Codes Act. However, under the present political dispensation the Islamic fundamentalists has through participation in politics and eventual clinching of political offices around the world and in Nigeria alike succeeded in introducing a new rigid, fundamentalist dimension to the application of the Sharia Law in Nigeria.The present position of the Sharia Law in Nigeria like in many other Sharia Legal system has continued to evince problems and attract wide criticisms on the basis of it's repugnancy nature, unconstitutionality,inhuman treatment and inconsistencies with the established international human rights standards.Finally, the paper will attempt to consider various arguments adduced in support of the Sharia Law by advocates such as writers,Islamic fundamentalists and scholars.In the same vein I intend to make critical suggestions and submission in respect of the seemingly negative trend of the operation of the Law in Nigeria and worldwide.