ii. Findings of the CRM Corruption in the electoral process 306. The CRM, during its interactive sessions at the federal, state and local government levels, noted wide-ranging perceptions of corruption among both nonstate and state stakeholders. A small minority of views, mainly those of state stakeholders, indicated a positive appreciation of national efforts to combat and eradicate corruption. The vast majority of stakeholders, mainly from the nonstate sector, were of the firm view that corruption in the political sphere continues to pervade all aspects of Nigeria’s polity. A small but vocal minority, representing mainly youth groups and some women, asserted that the situation was getting worse and cited the 2007 electoral process as evidence. 307. Money seems to play a major role in Nigerian politics at federal, state and local levels. Political corruption is seen in the selection of preferred candidates rather than actual competition among contestants for power. Poverty and youth unemployment make voters ‘sell’ their votes for money and render the youth vulnerable to exploitation by politicians. Claims of the use of security agencies in rigging elections, and the buying of positions (including chieftainships), were also identified as posing serious challenges to electoral democracy. 308. Many stakeholders emphasised the imperative of reforming the electoral system as the only way of redressing electoral injustice and restoring legitimacy to the democratic process in Nigeria. Recalling that pervasive political corruption linked to fraudulent electoral processes has been the bane of Nigerian politics since the return to civilian rule in 1999, many Nigerians believe that the viability of Nigeria as a democracy hinges on reforming the electoral system so as to strengthen the electoral process and thus provide no room for the rigging epidemic that prevailed in the 2007 elections. Spheres of corruption 309. Newspaper reports, including commentaries, radio and television news/ reportage and one-to-one interactions, invariably showed great awareness of corruption in the MDAs and the private sector. These sources also indicated a direct correlation between corruption and increasing poverty among the people, especially in the rural areas and among women. 310. In terms of the perceived corruption in the political domain, a number of stakeholders tended to view the executive at federal level as less corrupt than those attached to the states and local governments This may be due to stakeholders’ positive view of the current presidency’s potential and commitment to fight corruption. 113