Electoral Malpractice as Treasonable Felony: A Constitutional Reappraisal under Nigerian Law.

The article critically examines electoral malpractice in Nigeria, arguing that severe forms of electoral fraud—such as systemic rigging, voter suppression, falsification of results, and electoral violence—should be constitutionally reclassified as treasonable felonies under Nigerian law. It highlights the disconnect between Nigeria's colonial-era legal definitions of treason, which focus on violent overthrow, and the 1999 Constitution's affirmation that sovereignty resides in the people, exercised primarily through elections. Drawing on Nigerian statutes, case law, and comparative insights from jurisdictions including Kenya, Ghana, South Africa, India, and the United States, the study contends that deliberate subversion of electoral integrity constitutes a fundamental assault on constitutional democracy and legitimacy. The article concludes by recommending doctrinal shifts, legislative amendments, and institutional reforms to treat egregious electoral offences as constitutional crimes warranting the gravest penalties, thereby reinforcing democratic accountability and the rule of law in Nigeria.