The Management of Youth Involvement in Election Violence in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa: Causes, Issues, Actors and Management

Abstract

This study examined the management of youth involvement in election violence in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, Nigeria. All violence linked to election is mostly perpetrated by the youths who are not only in the service of the politicians but also financed by them so long as they do the biddings. The study adopted a descriptive survey design. Data was collected through primary and secondary sources. A total of 125 questionnaire were administered and 110 retrieved for analysis using SPSS 21. Poor implementation of electoral laws, lack of self-confidence of politicians, difficult environmental terrain, godfatherism, proliferation of small and light weapons cause violence during elections in the study area. Ex-militant and other criminal gangs, the independent National Electoral Commission and Security personnel are the major actors in election violence in the study area. The creation of skill acquisition programmes, sensitization and legal framework designed for combating electoral violence, address the issue of youth involvement in election violence, and difficult terrain, no access roads, inaccessibility of police stations in the area, poor communication network are clog on the wheel of managing youth involvement in election violence in the study area. Adequate empowerment programs must be put in place for youths; government should establish more security posts in the study area. State and federal government should construct more roads to link the area together. The role most youths perform in the political and electoral process is violent in nature and that youths are vulnerable instrument of electoral violence.