Leadership and Electoral Management in Nigerian Fourth Republic: A Focus on the Muhammadu Buhari Administration, 2015-2023

This study examined the relationship between leadership and electoral management in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic, focusing on the Muhammadu Buhari administration (2015–2023). Specifically, it evaluated Buhari’s leadership style, analyzed the strategies employed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and identified challenges in electoral management during this period. Anchored on Transformational Leadership Theory, the study explored how Buhari’s vision, ethical standards, and reform-oriented approach influenced electoral processes and governance. Desk research was employed to collect and analyze secondary data from electoral reports, institutional publications, and scholarly studies. Findings indicate that Buhari’s leadership combined reformist initiatives with centralized control, resulting in partial electoral improvements. Technological innovations, including the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal, enhanced procedural transparency and voter authentication; however, operational inefficiencies, declining voter turnout, and institutional dependence on the executive limited their overall effectiveness. INEC’s strategies, such as continuous voter registration, voter education, and logistics reforms, expanded participation but failed to overcome systemic challenges like electoral malpractice, insecurity, technological failures, and public distrust. The study concluded that while Buhari’s administration achieved incremental reforms, deeper structural issues constrained electoral credibility and citizen engagement. Recommendations emphasized comprehensive institutional reforms to strengthen INEC’s independence, improve operational efficiency, enhance enforcement mechanisms, and rebuild public trust. The research contributes to understanding the complexities of leadership-driven electoral reform in Nigeria and highlights the interplay between