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| The State and Electoral Violence: An Analysis of the 2019 Presidential Election in Nigeria
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Obiam, Sampson Chimene, Ojukwu, Uchechukwu Grace (Ph.D), Okeke, V.O.S. (Ph.D), Mbah, Clement Chukwu (Ph.D)
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Abstract:
The world is increasingly becoming globalized. Thus, elections have continued to enhance the smooth and orderly transmission of power with very little problems. This helps to ensure the maintenance and sustenance of the political system. Over the years, Nigeria's elections are devoid of electoral violence, snatching of ballot boxes, burning of election materials, kidnapping of candidates and their family members; and burning of homes of high political aspirants. While electoral violence has continued to subsist in many countries of the world, elections in Nigeria, in the contemporary periods has attracted global attention due to the challenge of establishing a secure environment that can facilitate free and fair democratic elections. The 2019 Presidential election experienced greater levels of violence as over hundred persons lost the lives throughout the exercise. This study x-rayed the state and election related conflict, particularly the series of electoral violence witnessed in Nigeria's 2019 Presidential. Albeit, Nigeria's 2019 Presidential election witnessed significant inciting campaigns across political climes and among political elites, political thugs, and political loyalties. The extent of the inciting campaign carried before the final election gave way to the high level of violence in states such as Lagos, Rivers, Kogi, Bayelsa, including Borno. Victims of brutal attacks during the election include the voters, INEC staff, party agents and unarmed security operatives at the 119 973 polling units. Against this background, the study adopted descriptive approach and content analysis as its methodological orientation. This study through the elitist theoretical framework unfolds contradiction of interests amongst the elites as a result of hedonistic manifestations. The study further ascertained that factors such as: the weak institutionalization of democratic architectures, ethnicity, tribalism, high level of unemployment, poverty and inefficient electoral management body among others have coalesced to constitute impediments to peaceful, fair and free elections in Nigeria. We therefore recommend the pursuit of good governance and genuine political will so as to ensure that people's trust in the electoral process is enhanced. Again, INEC should continue to remain autonomous and this should be further strengthened so as to achieve an objective and effective electoral process in Nigeria.
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