A fair electoral process can ease divisions in Nigeria : decentralised politics brought on a new set of challenges in the north

Abstract

Decentralisation is regarded as a way of reducing political competition between people. However, studies in Nigeria show that decentralised politics actually can fuel confl icts and ethnic divisions as community identities become basis for representation.The February 2015 elections have – if the electoral process is free and fair – a potential to ease some of the divisions that decentralisation has fuelled in northern Nigeria.