Electoral violence and democratic consolidation in Nigeria: a case of the 2023 general election in Edo state
Keywords:
Democratic Consolidation, Election, Electoral Violence, Edo State, General ElectionAbstract
The 2023 general election served as a critical litmus test for how far Nigeria’s democratic experiment has consolidated. However, it presented persistent challenges, including violence. This study investigated the connection between electoral violence and democratic consolidation in Edo State in the context of the 2023 general elections in Nigeria. The study utilised a survey research design that prioritised a questionnaire instrument to draw data from 2,043 respondents from the three selected LGAs: Esan Northeast (Edo Central), Etsako-East (Edo North) and Oredo. The entire study was anchored on the theory of structural functionalism, which posits that strong political structures enhance a credible and transparent election process, while weak institutions are instruments for electoral violence and bad governance. The results provide compelling empirical evidence that electoral violence remains a critical obstacle to democratic consolidation in Nigeria. The findings revealed that the triggers of electoral violence in the state during the election period were the quest for power, poverty, financial corruption, and illiteracy, suggesting that electoral violence remains a critical factor in Nigeria’s democratic process despite reforms. The study further revealed that electoral violence erodes public trust and confidence in elections, weakens political institutions, discourages political participation and constrains the growth of opposition politics. The findings further highlight that electoral violence is both a symptom and a driver of institutional and structural challenges, such as weak political institutions, elite manipulation, a weak rule of law and an intense political competitive atmosphere of winner-takes-all. The study, therefore, recommends that there is a need to strengthen the independence of the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC), ensure strict enforcement of electoral laws to deter future electoral violence during elections, promote sustained voter education to enhance democratic values, and address prevailing socio-economic drivers of violence in Nigeria.
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