From £100 Income Requirement to Vote Buying: How Did Nigeria Get Here?

Under the Clifford Constitution of 1922, voting in Nigeria was deliberately restricted. Eligible voters had to be men aged 21 or older, British subjects or Nigerian natives, resident in the relevant municipality for at least 12 months, and earning a gross annual income of at least £100. The first elections under the system were held in 1923, leaving political participation largely limited to a small and relatively wealthy group. Today, allegations of vote buying raise a troubling question: how did Nigeria move from excluding poor citizens from voting to reports of voters being offered money for their ballots? Vote buying remains a serious threat to free and fair elections. What practical steps can citizens, political parties and electoral authorities take to stop it?

Use The App To Win ₦1m

Stories are shared by community members. This article does not represent the official view of NaijaWorld — the author is solely responsible for its content.