Election violence and democracy in nigeria name of student. General studies directorate abubakar tafawa balewa university, bauchi, nigeria email. An appraisal of precipitating factors in nigeria olayiwola victor ojo m sc political science, university of ilorin, ilorin, nigeria abstract nigerias electoral politics from independence has been tumultuous. In the western region, violent political conflicts, popularly referred to as operation wet e, were. Best practices for the prevention of electoral violence reliefweb. Electoral violence in nigeria john campbell september 2010. Most of the violence occurred after the election, as the results of the presidential poll began to become.
This study accounts for the fall in the level of electoral violence in. Elections in nigeria since political independence, has been characterised by violence activities that often resulted in socioeconomic tension of unrest whoever they are shows signs of violence either overtly or governmentally in words or action. Overviewin february 2015, the author wrote an update to this memo to reflect recent developments in nigeria. Violence and electoral fraud have trailed most elections in african countries. From the above definition it suggests that the concept of violence cannot be understood independently from the concept of force. The implication perspective frankcollins nnamdi okafor associate professor and head, department of political science, nnamdi azikiwe university, nigeria abstract following the outbursts of violence in previous elections in nigeria, fears have been. Pdf electoral violence in nigerias fourth republic. Electoral violence in nigeria the history of elections in nigeria dates back 1922 with the introduction of cliffords constitution. The first major political assassinations after independence came with the 1966 coup and the execution of prime minister balewa, along with premiers ahmadu bello and samuel akintola and finance minister festius okotie eboh. Toyin falola examines violence as a tool of domination and resistance, however unequally applied, to get to the heart of why nigeria has not built a successful democracy.
The human rights impact and causes of postelection. Historically, nigeria has organized eleven general elections and numerous regionalstatelocal elections between 1954 and 2015. Electoral violence in nigeria council on foreign relations. It also looks at the effects of instability and violence in nigerian society and proffers a number of solutions.
An analysis of the 2003 and 2007 electoral violence in nigeria. Nigeria, systems of government, electionsvoting, violence, executive. Implications for political stability article pdf available in journal of scientific research and reports 2. This article identifies poverty, a culture of impunity, weak penalties, a lack of effective governance, and small arms proliferation, amongst others. Electoral violence and the survival of democracy in. Tamuno lagos, federal government printer for the panel on nigeria since independence history project, 1991.
The 20011 general election marked another ugly milestone of political violence in the political history. Votes and violence in nigeria no to election violence campaign in oyo state, nigeria 2007. Curbing multidimensional violence in nigeria society. In nigeria, the first post independence election was characterised by violence. Electoral violence ranges from acts of assault, arson, ballot box snatching and stuffing to murderassassination. Particularly in developing countries, like nigeria. By definition, electoral violence could be regarded as electionsmotivatedcrisis employed to alter, change or influence by force or coercion, the electoral behavior of voters or voting patterns or. Mapping, evolution and patterns june 2006 may 2014 executive summary an analysis of the nigeria watch database for the period between june 2006 and may 2014 revealed 915 fatal incidents related to elections. Since nigeria became independent on october 1st 1960, the history of election has been written in violence. Pdf on jan 10, 2017, anthony egobueze and others published electoral violence in nigerias fourth republic.
But then what is obtainable in our country nigeria is not election but selection. With president jonathan, a southern christian, contesting again and very likely fac. Their slogan will come to an end as soon as people become informed about the truth. The human rights watch 2007 in its follow up of postindependence events in nigeria describes the nations postindependence history as being overshadowed by the depredations of a series of corrupt, abusive, and unaccountable governments. Crime, vigilantism, and electoral violence in nigeria. Identifying hotspots in the 2011 general elections in nigeria a report submitted to national association for peaceful elections in nigeria napen, abuja, nigeria. Violence is interpersonal acts of force usually involving the infliction of physical injury, coady. Electoral violence and 2015 general elections in nigeria. Since the independence era, elections in nigeria have been characterized by high scale of electoral malpractices, money politics, electoral violence. The importance, how to, effect causes relationship, comparison, history, role, solutions are discussed. It has been with us since the early independence years and was deployed by the existing political parties then. Commissioned by the center for conflict analysis and prevention at the united states institute of peace, this report offers a brief overview of electoral violence in nigeria, examines nigerias prospects for a nonviolent political transition in 2011, and concludes with recommendations for a safer, more secure polling season.
Electoral violence and the survival of democracy in nigeria. Problems and prospects of the evoting option idike, adeline nnenna, a. Here, you will see the history of electoral violence in nigeria, factors responsible for electoral violence in nigeria, effects of electoral violence in nigeria as well as solutions to electoral violence in nigeria way forward. A philosophical evaluation of the framework of electoral violence. Get free research paper on effects of electoral violence on nigeria democracy 2007 2011 a case study of south west our project topics and materials are suitable for students in nigeria with case studies. Doctor philosophiae dphil political sciences, in the department of political sciences, faculty. Breaking the cycle of electoral violence in nigeria united. However, this study attempts to discuss the causes of insecurity and violence in nigeria, the cost and effects of insecurity, security challenges in nigeria and national transformation 2. This incidence of election violence in africa is so high that even. Political violence and its effects on social development in. Electoral violence in nigeria is traceable to the first republic especially during the 196465 elections. Emerging trends and challenges of electoral democracy in. The council on foreign relations cfr is an independent, nonpartisan membership organization, think. The theatre of violence have started, election is next month in nigeria and the youth have resorted to attacking themselves over those who do not care about the nation.
Emerging trends and challenges of electoral democracy in africa. The theoretical framework for the study is cultural relativism. Nigerias 2011 polls will mark the fourth multiparty election in nigeria and, if a power. Electoral violence and nigerias 2007 elections osisioma b c nwolise dr nwolise is senior lecturer in the department of political science, university of ibadan, ibadan tel. An overview of armed violence in nigerias south south. Curbing electoral violence in nigeria african journals online. Many innocent citizens that come to exercise their franchise can be victims of sporadic shooting, either dead or badly wounded.
This study finds that electoral violence in nigeria s 2003 and 2007 elections was stirred through the politics of godfatherism and the high remuneration of elected representatives, and it thus contributes to the general systematic studies of electoral violence, and nigeria s electoral violence in particular. Causes of electoral violence in africa written by ngah gabriel sous dir. Pdf appraisal of the 2019 postelectoral violence in nigeria. Causes of political violence in nigeria when the leaders are legitimately elected, most of the strife or violence are abated. Obakhedo, neville onebamhoi department of political science and. One major effect of electoral violence in nigeria is the loss of lives and property during such incidences. The post electoral violence recorded during the general election is one of the. University of the free state department of political science topic. It is on this premise that this paper anchors its concern i. The first major political assassinations after independence came with the 1966 coup and the execution of prime minister balewa, along with premiers ahmadu bello and samuel akintola. In this article, we take a look at the causes, consequences, and possible solutions to electoral violence in nigeria. Civil society in the south south has more ingos than other states. This is a reflection of the decadelong violence in and media attention to the niger delta, including states of the south south and the south east.
In africa, countries like zimbabwe, kenya, uganda, ethiopia, chad, nigeria, sierra leone and zambia have all been characterised by election violence. Origins and response the april 2011 elections were considered to be one of nigerias fairest polls. Testing democracy political violence in nigeria hrw. If the prediction that nigeria would cease to be a unified territory did not. Security challenges in nigeria and national transformation. There are always complains and claims of violence in the runups to elections, during and after an election. Conducted in april and may, these polls represented a key milestone in the countrys democratic development. The historical trajectory of electoral process in the post colonial nigerian is characterised by violence. An analysis of the 2003 and 2007 electoral violence in nigeria by nyam aondowase submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree. Using round 5 afrobarometer survey data from 35 african coun. Electoral violence in nigeria is an unfortunate phenomenon due to its reoccurrences she the country became a federation in 1963.
Causes of electoral violence in africa written by ngah. Political violence poses a serious threat to the legitimacy of the state and federal elections that will take place in nigeria from april 12 to may 3, 2003. Causes and dynamic of political violence in nigeria. Thus, the electoral process in nigeria, characterized by vote buying, vote rigging and outright violence, remains incapable of producing a leadership imbued. Electoral violence in nigeria has two broad dimensions, physical and psychological. Using round 4 afrobaromter survey data from 20 african countries in. Nigerias unemployment rate is above the sub regions average that increased to 23. Within the context of a complete break away from oneparty and military dictatorships, african countries dived into competitive multiparty elections since the 1990s. Political violence and its effects on social development. Comparing theory and reality gregory wallsworth september 25, 2015 abstract various studies on election violence in africa have found violence to mar as high as eightypercent of african elections.
An empirical examination of existing theories gregory wallsworth october 28, 2015 abstract recent studies of election violence in africa found violence mars as many as 80 percent of african elections. Jan 12, 2015 the theatre of violence have started, election is next month in nigeria and the youth have resorted to attacking themselves over those who do not care about the nation. Electoral violence amongst other forms has reportedly claimed more than 11,000 lives in nigeria between 1999 and 2006. Pdf as nigeria moves closer to its 2015 elections, there are concerns that the elections, like the previous ones, will be marred by violence. Breaking the cycle of electoral violence in nigeria.
Apr 25, 2016 nigerias unemployment rate is above the sub regions average that increased to 23. Colonialism and violence in nigeria looks closely at the conditions that created a legacy of violence in nigeria. It is an endemic feature of most of the developing world political systems. The first recorded electoral violence in post colonial nigeria occurred in 1964. In the words of john dewey, violence is force gone wrong, or force that is destructive and harmful. The dominant political parties in the first republic, namely. Political violence as a means to propagate and maintain the status quo in nigeria is historical and structural in nature. The research did not include terrorist attacks by islamic or militant groups with. Political violence in nigeria is not a particular feature of civilian regimes. In this post, we will discus the issues behind electoral violence in nigeria. Sep 21, 2010 overviewin february 2015, the author wrote an update to this memo to reflect recent developments in nigeria.
In kenya, there is rape, sexual harassment, hate speeches, eviction and displacement, as the unique examples of the nature of political and electoral violence in the country. Brief history of political violence in nigeria political violence has been part of human history, present in the history of all humanity for ages. Nigerian election experience where electoral violence and the use of arms have played critical roles in undermining the construction of robust democratic. Politics as war the human rights impact and causes of postelection violence in rivers state, nigeria summary methodology recommendations to the government of the federal republic of nigeria to. Commissioned by the center for conflict analysis and prevention at the united states institute of peace, this report offers a brief overview of electoral violence in nigeria, examines nigerias prospects for a nonviolent political transition in 2011, and concludes with recommendations for a. The recent 2016 post election crisis in gabon12 that left scores dead seems to shows that electoral violence is an intractable phenomenon on the. Summary and policy conclusions results from a nationwide field experiment during the 2007 elections in nigeria reveal that a range of dirty tactics, some illegal, were used by both government and opposition politicians.
The militia experience in nigeria genyi, george akwaya centre for peace and development studies, benue state university, makurdi, nigeria abstract after decades of military rule in most countries in africa, the culture of violence became entrenched in the conduct of public and even private affairs. Trends in electoral violence in nigeria, rasak bamidele2. Abstract the nigerian state is not alien to electoral violence which can be traced as far back as the pre independence elections. Several reasons are actually responsible for electoral violence in nigeria. While the united states has limited levers by which to steer the country clear of an electoral crisis, its special relationship with the nigerian political class does. Nigerias 2011 general elections, the fourth since the return to civilian rule in 1999, were significantly more transparent and credible than the three preceding polls in 1999, 2003 and 2007. In fact, recent manifestations of electoral violence, most importantly since the birth of the fourth republic in 1999 have assumed an unprecedented magnitude and changing form, resulting in instability in democratic consolidation as well as the loss and displacement of many innocent lives. Contestants in nigeria can go to any length to rig and win elections even if it means to break the states. The link between electoral violence and nigerias 2003 and 2007 elections is analysed based on hoglunds analytical framework of electoral violence, as well as its applicability to the nigerian political situation. Breaking the cycle of electoral violence in nigeria united states. This study examines electoral violence in nigerias fourth republic 1999 2015 and its implications for political stability.
231 1497 631 888 1426 1529 17 613 688 1615 714 1209 1387 64 277 1086 1536 1215 873 489 1611 1069 1206 456 535 648 1496 861 252 232 603 739 1468 703 304