Political Violence and Democratic Consolidation in Nigeria: A focus on the 2019 and 2023 General Elections

Abstract

Overtime, election has been the most controversial aspect of Nigeria’s democracy as it includes activities for choosing amongst individuals for the leadership and representative role in the country. Leadership seats have always been a contest and a battle that most individuals pursue. The political space of Nigeria therefore has always been characterized by violence which is usually being employed for political gains, ethno-religious vices and destabilization of the democratic processes. The research studies the various reasons for the continuous violence in Nigeria’s electoral processes, its impacts on the electoral processes and largely on the democratic consolidation of the country. The paper employed the descriptive analysis method in analyzing the causes and impact level of political violence. The paper asserted that the ethnic and religious volatility plays a great role in the ensuing of violence in the last election, as the election was viewed as an election amongst individuals of ethnic groups. The researchers therefore, suggest that principle of federal character can reduce political violence and make for democratic consolidation in Nigeria.