Peace Accord and Electoral Violence in Nigeria 2015 and 2019 Policy Implications

Abstract

Electoral process is a major determinant of democracy which provides electorate the institutional framework for choosing representatives through a competitive, free and fair election. But in Nigeria, politics is both a serious and deadly business where the winner takes all while the loser loses everything. Because of the invaluable prize at stake, every imaginable strategy is utilized to ensure electoral victory by contesting members of the political elite class. These strategies include rigging, thuggery, intimidation of opponent, falsification of election results, bribery, vote buying, hate speech etc. To stem these, government recently resorted to the signing of peace accord by the presidential candidates of the various political parties, committing to a peaceful poll devoid of violence before and after election in Nigeria. The aim of this study is to examine how peace accord aids in sustaining a more orderly democratic process devoid of violence and other forms of electoral malpractices in Nigeria. The study adopted descriptive and historical method in collecting data. This study is predicated on economic theory of democracy. The findings of the study revealed that peace accord is not instituted in the constitution as part of our democratic process rather it is a pledge or promise for peaceful election which could be easily breached than obey; that as far as Nigerian electoral process is concerned, peace accord is a futile exercise since the stakes are so high. Based on this, the study recommended that the Nigerian government should strengthen the existing electoral laws against any unethical conduct before, during and after election. Also, any individual or party who flouts the laws should be sanctioned and made to face the consequences.