Civic Engagement and its Role in Mitigating Electoral Violence in Nigeria: Implications for the 2015 General Elections

Abstract Elections are an integral part of any democracy. They serve as a mechanism for legitimising a political system – its succession of government and leaders – for linking political institutions with voters, and for holding the elected government and leaders accountable to the electorate. Yet, due to the combative nature of competition for political power in high-stake contexts, elections may lead to violence. Usually this happens if key stakeholders anticipate the proceedings will not be free and fair, while those seeking to retain or gain political power show no qualms about resorting to extraordinary measures such as using force in order to win. Sometimes there exist underlying causes of electoral violence such as exclusion, inequality, or a history of ethnic tensions. Zanzibar, a semi-autonomous group of islands off the mainland coast of the United Republic of Tanzania, exhibits such a case whereby almost every one of its general elections has been marred with violence. Today, as the concern escalates over threats of immanent physical combat related to elections in so-called ‘advanced’ democracies, it is illuminating to revisit the drivers of electoral violence in Zanzibar, and to reconsider the efficacy of its early warning mechanisms, since the inception of Zanzibar’s multiparty politics in 1992.

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Managing the Incidence of Electoral Violence in Ghana’s Fourth Republic

Asian Journal of Education and Social Studies ◽

10.9734/ajess/2020/v12i130304 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 39-46

Author(s):

Harrison Kofi Belley

Keyword(s):

Sampling Technique ◽

Electoral System ◽

Primary Sources ◽

Electoral Violence ◽

Process Factor ◽

Secondary Sources ◽

Qualitative Research Design ◽

Fourth Republic ◽

General Elections ◽

Volta Region

Since the inception of the fourth republic in 1992 [1], Ghana has gone through seven major successive general elections and has received numerous commendations all over the world. Incidentally, all these elections were associated with electoral violence. This study aimed at studying the causes, nature, and effects of electoral violence in the Volta Region of Ghana. The objective of the study included how electoral violence affects the credibility of the electoral system and what measures the Electoral Commission (EC) and the stakeholders in the conduct of elections have put in place to address the occurrence of electoral violence in the Volta Region in particular. The study identified two broad factors as responsible for the occurrence of electoral violence. The first factor is the process factor that serves as immediate cause of an eruption of electoral violence. The second is the external factors which, also serve as fertile grounds for electoral violence to occur. The study used qualitative research design in gathering data. The study used purposive sampling technique. In-depth interviews were conducted as the primary sources of data collection while secondary sources were gathered through existing documents, reports, textbooks, and internet search. The study recommended that EC should be professional in their electoral activities so that their actions would not serve as a spark of electoral violence.

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Election Violence and Voter Turnout in 2019 General Elections: What Role for Political Parties?

European Scientific Journal ESJ ◽

10.19044/esj.2021.v17n2p137 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 17 (2) ◽

Author(s):

Mustapha Salihu ◽

Yahaya Yakubu

Keyword(s):

Political Parties ◽

Voter Turnout ◽

Focal Point ◽

Voter Mobilization ◽

Emerging Democracies ◽

Electoral Violence ◽

General Elections ◽

Election Violence ◽

The Relationship

This study examines the incidence of electoral violence and its resultant effects on voter turnout in the 2019 general elections in Nigeria, with the role of political parties as the focal point of discussion. A review of election data shows; voter turnout has been on the decline from 69% in 2003 to 35% in 2019. While a handful of factors could be responsible, the study ascribes its prevalence to the antic’s political parties (incumbent and opposition) and politicians who deliberately deploy violence as an electoral strategy. To account for the relationship between, political parties, electoral violence and voter turn-out, the study builds on theories of voter mobilization in and advanced and emerging democracies. Against this, it concludes in the absence of enduring party-voter relations in Nigeria, political parties and politicians alike, resort to vote buying, mobilization of political thugs and in other times deployment of state coercive apparatus to intimidate opponents all of which culminates into electoral irregularities which has the potency to instigate electoral violence. This in turn has in amongst others adversely affected voter turn-out as rightly observed over five electoral cycles.

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Appraisal of Africa Traditional Media (Oramedia) as Communication Tools for Effective Management of Electoral Violence in Nigeria

Asian Journal of Empirical Research ◽

10.18488/journal.1007/2016.6.6/1007.6.142.151 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 6 (6) ◽

pp. 142-151

Author(s):

Odigbo Ben E ◽

Silk Ugwu Ogbu ◽

Okonkwo Raphael Valentine

Keyword(s):

Survey Design ◽

Primary Data ◽

The South ◽

Communication Tools ◽

Traditional Media ◽

Effective Prevention ◽

Electoral Violence ◽

The North ◽

Idiomatic Expressions ◽

General Elections

The study dwelt on an appraisal of the potency of Africa traditional media vehicles (oramedia) as communication tools for effective prevention and management of pre- and post-electoral violence in Nigeria. It was occasioned by the perennial incidence of electoral violence that has characterized general elections in the country since independence. The specific objectives were to: determine the effect of oramedia human-vehicular media as antidote to electoral violence in Nigeria; examine the effect of oramedia traditional anti-violence symbols as tools for preventing electoral violence in Nigeria; and determine the effect of oramedia idiomatic expressions as tools for preventing electoral violence in Nigeria. The study adopted survey design, where primary data were sourced through structured questionnaire. The study area was Portharcourt in the South-South, Kaduna in the North, Aba in the South-East and Lagos in the South-West. The results show that: Oramedia human-vehicular media; oramedia traditional anti-violence symbols and oramedia idiomatic expressions were significantly effective antidote for the prevention and management of electoral violence in Nigeria. Based on these outcomes, it was then recommended that the Nigerian Government and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), should give priority and devote more resources to the use of Africa traditional media for checkmating pre- and post-electoral violence in the country.

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