Philosophical Analysis of the Concept of Fairness in Nigerian Electoral Processes

This study provides a philosophical analysis of the concept of fairness and its application to Nigerian electoral processes, examining whether elections in the Fourth Republic satisfy the philosophical standards of procedural and substantive fairness through cases drawn from the South West and North West geopolitical zones. Fairness is a foundational value in political philosophy, and its philosophical content, combining equal treatment, impartiality, and respect for the equal standing of all citizens, provides a rigorous standard for evaluating democratic institutions. Using a descriptive philosophical design, the study engages with philosophical accounts of fairness from John Rawls, Brian Barry, and African political philosophy, supplemented by secondary literature published between 2020 and 2024. Documentary analysis of election tribunal judgements and INEC post-election reports from the 2019 and 2023 general elections in Lagos and Kano provides the case material. Structured interviews with 20 electoral law scholars and philosophy academics in Lagos and Kano inform the primary data. Findings reveal systematic violations of both procedural and substantive fairness in Nigerian elections, including unequal access to electoral resources, manipulated voter registration processes, and selective enforcement of electoral rules. The study argues that philosophical analysis of fairness provides a more rigorous standard for electoral reform than technical electoral management approaches alone. Keywords: fairness, electoral philosophy, Nigerian elections, Rawls, political philosophy.