Social Studies, Economics and Political Science Education: Vital Tools for Revamping Corruption in Electoral Process of African Democracy and the Nigerian Perspective

Abstract

A critical look at the democracy in some African nations including Nigeria reveals that some African nations
with Nigeria inclusive have been faced with several challenges in the electoral process of their democracy
which include corruption in the electoral process. Many people have attributed this corruption to lack of
adequate political education on electoral process by political institution for success in African nations and
Nigerian democracy. The problem of corruption in electoral process of African nations including Nigeria
democracy if not tackled has the potential to derail African nations and Nigeria quest for conducting free
and fair election without corrupt influence towards choosing their leaders. It is in this regard that this paper
examines education as a credible tool for revamping corruption in electoral process of African nations and
Nigeria. The paper discusses what corruption in electoral process in African nations and Nigerian
democracy is. It further highlights different forms and shapes of corruption in African nations and Nigerian
perspective as well as portray training and retraining of officials and contestants that partake in electoral
process by political institutions, especially Institute of Political Administration and Management (IPAM) and
universities as institutions that will through their education revamp corruption from the minds of the officials
for success in electoral process. The paper concludes that political education by educational institutions
like IPAM and others in Nigeria and Africa be giving to officials that will partake in election so as to revamp
corruption in electoral process, consequently African nations with Nigeria inclusive will take their position
of pride among the continents and nations of the world. Among the suggestions proffer are that institutions
of learning should withdraw the certificates of citizens found or reported with concrete evidence indulging
in corrupt practices during electoral process, since certificate of institutions are awarded based on
Character and learning. The ill of indulging in corrupt practices during electoral process be included and
expanded in school curriculum, by curriculum developers, for university subjects especially social studies,
economics and political science since these subjects deal with human beings and the environment.