Elections have remained a crucial component of Nigeria’s political process. In the political build-up to its independence, different nationalist movements mobilised citizens to put pressure on the colonial governments for Nigerian participation in the political process and the governing of their territory. Since the 1922 Elective Principle, the country’s political landscape has undergone a significant shift, particularly in the southern region, with the emergence of political groups seeking to participate in government through the electoral process. The characteristics of the political activities began to manifest with intents and purposes reflecting the mindset of the political elites. The behavioural dispositions of the political elites jostling for political support were defined by the personal inclination of the elites towards power, their alignment with and loyalty to ethnic nationalism, and their appeal to religious sentiments in an ethnically differentiated society. Drawing on public documents as the primary source of data, this chapter presents a historical analysis of electoral patterns in Nigeria’s political system. The instability and incessant crisis associated with the conduct of elections in Nigeria have their roots in the formation of the Nigerian state. While early political elites exploited the ethnic divide as an instrument of electoral victory, the consequence has permanently left a mark of division in the country’s electoral culture. Successive political instabilities, which gave rise to military incursions, as well as the ongoing electoral crisis, are manifestations of the deep-seated seeds of discord planted during the nationalist movements. Hence, the recurring issue of the national question is a fundamental determinant of electoral activities in Nigeria.