Electoral Violence in Nigeria: Disentangling the Causes

Isah Maikudi Yusuf

doi:10.7176/rhss/9-10-06

Abstract

The role and essence of elections in a democracy are highly circumscribed in terms of expressing the popular will, engendering political changes and the legitimating of political regimes. This role is fundamental to the thriving of most democracies. But when the precepts, structures and processes of elections are mostly characterized by reckless manipulations, the politics of brinkmanship and subversion, the tendency is to regard election not as a catalyst, but as a devalued element and a fading shadow of the democratic process. In Nigeria, for instance, electoral violence has become a worrisome phenomenon that has continued to rear its ugly head since Nigeria returned to civil rule in 1999. The violence becomes more pronounced before, during and after the announcement of election results. This has pushed the government to continue to seek for policy alternatives on how best to tackle electoral violence which most often degenerate into wide spread political violence. However unearthing the root causes of electoral violence is critical in achieving this goal. In this respect, causal drivers’ framework will be adopted in analyzing electoral violence in this paper. While methodologically, field interviews conducted in sokoto as well as some secondary data from journals and media were analysed to empirically arrive at our findings. Thus, the study finds that while different but interrelated factors could breed violence; the tendency for elites’ manipulation for personal gains by affecting the electoral process cannot be over emphasized in any our attempt to disentangling the causes of electoral violence in Nigeria. Each time Nigerian elites are excluded or disfavoured in the power configuration, the next line of action is to foment trouble by appealing to sentiments (ethnic, religion, party) and resorting to violent inducements. Keywords : violence, election, electoral violence, democracy, politics DOI : 10.7176/RHSS/9-10-06 Publication date :May 31 st 2019

Highlights

Beginning from Nigeria’s general elections in 1964/65, violence became a major feature of electoral politics in the country
The political contestation in Nigeria since the inception of civilian administration in 1999 has continued to be characterized by high degree of electoral violence. This trend of electoral violence has led to a situation whereby the citizens (Nigerians) view elections and democratic process with apprehension and anxiety, with popular confidence gradually being eroded in the electoral process
The level and magnitude of electoral violence in Sokoto state has risen and the political elites have converted poverty ridden unemployed youths in the state into readymade machinery for the perpetration of electoral violence. Against this background that this paper examines causes of electoral violence in Nigeria, with particular focus on Sokoto state between 1999 and 2009

Summary

Introduction

1. Introduction Beginning from Nigeria’s general elections in 1964/65, violence became a major feature of electoral politics in the country. With the polarization of Nigerian politics, electoral violence had increasingly become normal party strategy as politicians employed paid youths to coerce and intimidate electoral opponents during or immediately after election periods.The result has, been subversion of the democratic process rather than its sustainability and consolidation.

Results

Conclusion