The Imperative of Credible Elections for Sustainable National Development in Nigeria-Lessons from the Ekiti State Gubernatorial Election, 2014

Elections in Nigeria have been associated with irregularities and violence since 4th Republic. The study examined the imperative of credible elections for sustainable national development in Nigeria with particular emphasis on Ekiti State gubernatorial election, 2014. Content Analytical Approach was adopted and the extract of the results of June, 21, 2014 election from 16 local governments in Ekiti State, Nigeria was critically analyzed. Guided by the humanistic theory, the study revealed that out of 3 political parties that contested at the polls, PDP won the 16 local government areas in the state and, the outcome was accepted by both the winner and losers of the contest. The study therefore, recommends that political office holders as chief servants of the people should improve the infrastructural needs and human capital development of their states and that the INEC ought to be truly independent of the executive to enhance the credibility of the electoral process in Nigeria. The paper concludes the politicians as a matter of urgency may draw lessons from Ekiti State poll and take proactive step to avoid individualism, lack of political will, sycophancy, and imbibe the culture of respecting the will of the populace as sovereignty belongs to the people and the will of the people can only be expressed in periodic and genuine elections.