The electoral umpire has a major task to carry out educating the voters on the dos and donts before, during and after elections. Again, it could be captured across the streets of africa that electoral violence is been instigated as a result of the culture of impunity. April 2014 6 igwe, dickson, 2012 the perception of electoral violence and democratization in ibadan, oyo state southwest nigeria, democracy and security, 8. It is an endemic feature of most of the developing world political systems. Nigerias unemployment rate is above the sub regions average that increased to 23. From ethnic conflicts to religious conflicts to terrorist attacks, violence seems to be a neverending trend. There must be a conscious effort to reach the voters physically to demonstrate and educate them. In the philippines, 75 people were killed prior to the may 2007 elections, while 80 others were wounded in election violence. The importance, how to, effect causes relationship, comparison, history, role, solutions are discussed. Emerging trends and challenges of electoral democracy in. Electoral violence in nigeria is traceable to the first republic especially during the 196465 elections. In a free and fair election, each valid ballot cast registers a political position. The relevance of the research pertains both to the advancement of knowledge on the democracyviolence nexus and to policy for how to address the causes of electoral violence. Electoral violence and the challenge of democratic consolidation.
The results of the elections in 2005 can only be understood in the context of the violence of 2002 and 2008. Pdf electoral violence in nigerias fourth republic. Election is a civic duty that is crucial to democracy. 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. Electoral violence in nigeria in 2007, 2011 and 2015 6 5. This description is apt because it appears that nigerians seem to have acquired a culture of electoral violence as seven of the eight general elections conducted since independence in 1960 have been violenceridden 19641965,1979,1983,1999,2003, 2007 and 2011. The dialogue was organized as a partnership event, under the overall stewardship of the department of political.
The dominant political parties in the first republic, namely. Therefore, in addition to poor weather, many factors have created high voter apathy to be a cancer in zambian political elections. Since the 1990s, the elections in west africa have often been a strong opportunity to express violence. The problem with nigeria, is that the politicians who are suppose to manage political conflicts, are the ones promoting, arming and funding violence. Indeed, electoral violence has received increasing international attention in recent years due to the devastating effects of outbreaks of violence in kenya. This paper however concludes with recommendations of policy options to remedy the menace of electoral violence in nigeria. The nipss report in ibrahim, 2007, shows that only the 1959 and 1979 elections had taken place without systematic rigging. Pdf violence, security challenges and the electoral. Particularly in developing countries, like nigeria. Nigerias democratic transition, there has been the need to set in motion a machinery to. Debating the causes, international journal of humanities and social science, vol.
The history of elections in nigeria since 1959 till date has, largely, been characterised by thuggery and violence among other notable electoral vices. Failing is the process to satisfy the test of popular participation and legitimacy. The regional dialogue on emerging trends and challenges of electoral democracy in africa was held over two days 2526 may 2016 in abuja, nigeria. Election violence in nigeria dates back over a hundred years, from the days of indirect rule. The most common and easily recognisable type is physical violence, which involves the use. The historical origin of the notable electoral malpractice in nigeria began with the general elections held in 1964. Indeed, according to the cleen foundation, violence has been. Electoral corruption and fraud, furthermore, the following could serve as incentives for electoral violence in nigeria. It looks at the use of abusive language in politics, election observation, gender related violence and the role of the youth in ghanaian politics. Electoral violence and the challenge of democratic. Electoral violence in the first republic of nigeria s civil democratic realities showcases a nation in absolute hostage situation. The types of violence we identified differ in these ways.
Credible election abhors violence, which inhibits voters right to. The study was reliant on electoral violence theory by hoglund 2009. This is a particularly important moment in africas history. The need for violentfree elections is what has motivated cada to examine some of the common causes of election violence and how to prevent their occurrences. Election, electoral violence, political violence, democracy, nigeria. This study examines electoral violence in nigerias fourth. The anatomy of the causes of electoral violence in nigeria suffice it to say that contingent upon the debilitating effect of electoral violence on the nations political landscape, a galaxy of questions and posers about the causes of electoral violence had been raised. The above definitions are the hallmarks of electoral violence in nigeria s fourth republic. Historical background to electoral violence in nigeria in the words of alanamu 2005, the history of violence in nigeria politics dates back to colonial era. Causes of voterpolitical apathy in nigeria research cyber. Trends in electoral violence in nigeria, rasak bamidele2.
Although, violence is not the only dimension a ected by the choice of electoral system, as pointed out in norris, 1997. Given the democratic credentials of ghana, election violence in any form and on any scale is unacceptable and we must all work towards achieving violentfree elections. Pdf voting and violence in nigerias 2015 elections 1. Permit me to cite these cases in an unchronological order. It also analyses inter and intra party conflicts and further looks at the linkage between politics and violence in ghana. The causes of electoral violence are multifaceted, and can be divided into two. The post electoral violence recorded during the general election is one of the. A decade of electoral violence in africa, 2004 to 20 electoral violence has, in certain instances, catalyzed prolonged political conflict. Since then, the trend line seems to be decreasing but still remains close to 50 percent.
Pdf appraisal of the 2019 postelectoral violence in nigeria. The recent 2016 post election crisis in gabon12 that left scores dead seems to shows that electoral violence is an intractable phenomenon on the continent. These forms of violence take place before elections, during elections and after or postelection, and could also be intra or interparty. Brief history of political violence in nigeria political violence has been part of human history, present in the history of all humanity for ages. The violence becomes more pronounced before, during and after the announcement of election results. Strategies to prevent and manage electoral violence. While most elections in west africa have been held in a peaceful environment in recent years, various acts of violence have been recorded.
Most of the violence occurred after the election, as the results of the presidential poll began to become. What effect does violence have on the elections, on democracy, on peace. Since electoral violence with concomitant effect had been the bane of. Causes and consequences of violence in nigeria punch. 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. What is the nature of this violence and how to eradicate it for good. Elections, violence and conflict prevention ace electoral. Four major factors associated with voters apathy to include. Army of unemployed youth then becomes a tool for 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. Electoral violence, votebuying and nigerias future elections. History of electoral violence in nigeria notable cases 1. Electoral violence is not a modernday phenomenon in nigeria. Electoral violence is more than just physical violence.
Introduction conceptualisation of elections and electoral violence in nigeria electoral. Heres one way to prevent election violence in africa. The incidence of electoral violence in nigeria is as plethora as they are intimidating. Is it possible to prevent any manipulations and make the process completely free and fair. Additionally, countries with a history of electoral violence often experience a recurrence of such violence, as has been witnessed in kenya, nigeria, and zimbabwe. This study examines electoral violence in nigerias fourth republic 1999 2015 and its implications for political stability. Causes of electoral violence in africa written by ngah. Causes of electoral violence in africa policy notes 20123. Breaking the cycle of electoral violence in nigeria united states. This paper is focused towards establishing the causes of electoral violence in nigerias democracy, with bayelsa and kogi state 2015 general elections as study areas. Understanding electoral violence to better prevent it unowas. Causes of electoral violence in africa written by ngah gabriel sous dir.
The evidence showed that patrimonialism as the style of politics, the types of elections, the type of electoral system and election administration are the main causes of election violence in africa. Thus, electoral violence is any act of violence carried out in the course of political activities before, during or after election. Electoral violence in the first republic of nigerias civil democratic realities showcases a nation in absolute hostage situation. Best practices for the prevention of electoral violence reliefweb. The following factors are responsible for electoral violence in nigeria. The study pin pointed frustration, aggression, greed, poverty hunger and.
Electionrelated violence is not limited to physical violence but includes other coercive means, such as the threat of violence, intimidation and harassment. Consequently, electoral violence has became a recurrent feature of the nigerian democratic process odofin and omojuwa, 2007. Origins and response the april 2011 elections were considered to be one of nigerias fairest polls. The ineffectiveness and malfunctioning of the security forces also give people the impetus to stage electoral violence. We decided to take a look at the possible solutions and major causes of violence in nigeria from a different angle naijaquest.
Electoral violence has a number of negative influences on individuals and on societies. And as elaborated above, most of the causes of high voter apathy spring from the politicians we put in political offices themselves. Causes and dynamic of political violence in nigeria. Political violence and its effects on social development. Article information, pdf download for electoral violence and the. From the 1950s, elections in nigeria approximated a war wage to determine who get. The first republic 1960 1966 collapsed due to the widespread violence unleashed by.
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