ROLE OF THE MILITARY IN DEMOCRATIC TRANSITIONS AND SUCCESSION IN NIGERIA

This paper examined the military as an institution and its role in democraticsuccession in Nigeria. The paper articulatedonhow various republics in Nigeriafailed and what role the military played during these periods. The study reliedmainly on secondary data sources, which includes periodicals and other archivaldocuments that provided the required information for the discourse. Data gatheredwere analyzed through content analysis. Critical and logicalanalysis of dataattested that the military had played the role of distractive force in Nigeria’sdemocratization process. The military institution presented itself and acted inmostoccasions as a false custodian of democratic principles by initiating andimplementingflawedelections for transition. However,emergingfactsfurthersuggest that these democratic principles and arrangements put in place by themilitarywereusually faulty and inadequate forsustainabledemocratic governanceto thrive on. Most general elections organized by the military to transit powerhave been descriptive ofmilidemocray,where previous military officers acquiredemocratic power through stage managed processes. The military institutiontherefore has functioned as a partisan organisation where various acts of electionpackagingwerelearnt and electioneering overtures acquired, despite itsinstrumental role in sustaining democracy in the country. This paper thereforeconcludes that the military has been more of a distractive than consolidation forceofdemocratictransitions, and free and fair elections in Nigeria democracy, sinceher independence.