CHAPTER ONE
1.0         BACKGROUND  OF  STUDY
In every democratic  system, the electorates  elect those   who will  represent  their interest  at the  government  level  and  chart the course  for  their  socio-economic development.
         Election  are therefore used as vital instrument  to elect those who would  be  in  authority  and champion the course and  welfare  of the citizenry as well as  promoting peace and stability  in the  state.
In Nigeria, the independent national electoral commission (INEC) was set up in 1998 major general Abdusalam Abubaka who succeeded the them  head  of state   major general Sani Abuacha  who  died mysteriously  prior  to Abuchas exit, he had in place  an election  that  will usher un the  democratically elected  government  in 1st October 1998.
         However, after his death, the  Abubaka’s regime cognizance of the role  of  electoral  commission dissolved  the NECON and set-up –the  independent  National Election commission  (INEC) charge  to organize and  ensure  an effective election and smooth  transition  of power military  government respectably  thus , to ensure  holistic conduct of the  elections, state  independent electoral  commissions were  set  upon  or  establish  in all the emergence  of  Imo State Independent Electoral Commission  (IMOSIEC) which  had the same statutory  function  as that  of  INEC  to ensure a  peaceful, free  and  fair  conduct  of  both  state, local   government  and  counsel election in  Imo State.
         Therefore, for a deeper  and  all an  compassing  knowledge of the role of electoral, electoral commission in enhancing the development of democracy in Nigeria, IMSIEC was considered as a case study in view of the fact that it constitutes an integral part of independent national electoral commission.
       However the  staff  of IMSEC, who were  one  hundred and twenty (120) and the  general  public who  were  one fifty two (52) in number  through random selection constitution the population  for this research exercise.
1.1          STATEMENT OF PROBLEM
There had been clear ion calls from people in Nigeria on the haphazard manner and pattern  in which electoral  commission
handled elections in the past result often   leads to  corruption  of violence and subsequent  cost of valuable life’s and property.
           In addition, the problems of electoral mal-practical,  rigging, ballot box and  paper  hijack  among  the  rank  and file  of the assumed independence  electoral   commission officials, which remorsefully  in must  case, erupt crises there by  destabilizing  the policy. Further more, the issue  of  late arrive of and  in adequate  electoral  materials  in   most polling   centre as well as inaccurate voters list     which  sometimes  disfranchise  eligible   registered  electorates from  exercising  their  civil  responsibilities. Most importantly non- neutrality of the electoral commission constitutes  remorse fully  another  major  problem.  It is uncontestable   that the various  electoral commission  we have  in the past  have   in way or the  other  being unduly influence by some  political stalwarts in declaring a falsified  result in favor  of candidates  who would  have lost  the election. Additionally, it commission  knowledge  that he who pays  the piper, dictate  the time, therefore, there  is  every possibilities that induces  influence  by the ruling  party will definitely  affect the  statutory performance of the independence electoral   commission.
1.2 OBJECTIVE OF STUDY.
      Aware of the fact that the   peace and stability   of a given polity cannot be handled with kid glove approach, the need to involved an effective and efficient functional machinery of transition of power from one democratically elected government to another becomes unquestionable imperative. In the light of the above this research seeks to pursue the following objective.
(1)      Assess the performance of the electoral commission  in Nigeriaespecially, the independent national electoral commission (INEC)
(2)      To examine the role, functions and activities of the electoral commission in and stability of the nation.
(3)      To analyze the problems, hindrances obstacle and lapses of the electoral commission.
(4)      To examine the feature of free and fair election in Nigeria.
(5)      To identify the problems military against the conduct of free and fair elections in Nigeria using Imo State independent electoral commission as a case study.