Simple Majority (Plurality System): Meaning, Merits and Demerits

Topic Content:

Simple Majority System also referred to as ‘first past the post’ or plurality system , allows candidates that scored the highest number of votes among the candidates in an election to be declared the winner. The winner need not score the majority vote. Nigeria operates this system.

For example, if 5 contestants contested for a post among 10,000 voters. At the end of voting, the election result is thus:

Election Results:

Candidate Ajayi with 2,100 votes has secured the highest number of votes and will be declared the winner even though he has not secured up to 50% of the total votes cast. The winner has not enjoyed