Interrogating The Contradictions of Secret and Optional Balloting In A Multi-party Democratic System: A Path to Reform
                        Aliyu Ozovehe Ilias
                    
                        Abstract
                        This paper interrogates the problems of secret balloting and optional balloting in a multiparty
                        democracy and the way forward. The effort is to resolve whether the absurdities arising from
                        secret balling and optional balloting in a multiparty Democracy have affected multiparty
                        democracy in Nigeria. The secondary method of data collection was used in order to explain
                        the topic. The explanatory design was employed in order to achieve vivid analysis with the
                        view of easing assimilation. The Elite Theory was used as a theoretical framework and the
                        essence of this is that balloting in a multiparty democracy in Nigeria is very elitist. There is
                        no gain in stating the obvious that there are challenges facing secret and optional balloting in
                        a multiparty democracy. It is based on these challenges that this paper is suggesting that
                        balloting in Nigeria should be done electronically to avoid the menace that comes with secret
                        and optional balloting in Nigeria.
                        
                        
                        
                          Key words:
                          Election, Balloting, Secret Balloting, Optional Balloting and Multiparty Democracy
                        
                        
                        
                        
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The Editor, Benue Journal of Social Sciences (BJSS), P.M.B. 102119, Benue State University, Makurdi, Nigeria
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