IMPACT OF VIOLENCE ON CITIZENS PARTICIPATION IN THE ELECTORAL PROCESS AN OPINION SURVEY OF NIGERIA

Abstract

The conduct of elections posses serious challenge to many developing democracies in Africa including Nigeria, in terms of attaining legitimacy through free, fair, credible and violence free elections. This scenario portends grave danger to Nigeria’s democratic project as violence has become synonymous with democratic elections even though, in modern times, genuine democracy is associated with peaceful elections. Against this backdrop, this paper surveys opinion of Nigerians on the impact of electoral violence on voter participatory behaviour in the electoral process. The multi-stage sampling technique was used to select six thousand, two (6,000) respondents across the six geopolitical zones of the country. The data were analyzed with the aid of the Chi-Square and Yule’s Q to test and determine the degree of association inherent in the stated hypotheses. The study discovered that voter participation in the electoral process is hampered by widespread violence and feeling of insecurity resulting in abstention and apathy. Consequently, some policy implications become imperative. For example, the government is advised to set in motion mechanism to forestall outbreaks of violence and ensure prompt prosecution of electoral offenders; The INEC should conduct transparent and credible elections; the political parties should conduct democratic campaigns, primaries and general elections; while the electorates are advised to choose candidates based on competence, and resist the temptation to sell votes. Succinctly, the realization of fairness, credibility, violence free elections, and effective voters’ participation in the pursuit for democratic consolidation entails the collaboration of all stakeholders in the Nigerian democratic project.