ABSTRACT
As moments in democratic transition, the 2006 Mexican and 2007 Nigerian elections were historic. Th e Nigerian elections of 2007 were the fi rst post-military era transition, while Mexico’s 2006 elections were the fi rst transition between two elected governments under the new electoral regime. But both were characterized by serious electoral irregularities, including outright violence against opposition groups in the period preceding the elections and during the polls themselves. In both, results proved highly controversial and ensuing protest and demands for a recount seriously undermined their legitimacy as an expression of popular sovereignty. Complicating these “democratic transitions” were global fi nancial interests in electoral processes and outcomes.
