Electoral Violence in Nigeria and its Implications for National Security
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Date
2016-01
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Osun Sociological Review
Abstract
Election is a vital pillar of representative governance globally. In spite of its centrality to democratic governance in Nigeria, the country’s electoral experiences have always floundered over the failure of the National and State electoral commissions to organize credible, free and fair elections in most instances thus leading to electoral violence. This paper appraised the implications of such violence for national security in Nigeria. The research findings which were sourced from secondary data revealed that electoral violence is a primary source of political power tussle and security threat in the country. Electoral violence in Nigeria is caused by political, social and economic factors, amongst others. The study unveiled the physical and psychological implications of electoral violence for national security. The physical dimensions of electoral violence include physical assault, arsons and destruction of lives and properties. The psychological dimensions are emotional trauma from physical assault, constant feelings of political insecurity, emotional pains, and unforgiving spirit of the affected persons for those who were responsible for the violence. Such psychological torture makes post election conflict reconciliation and resolution very difficult to achieve. Electoral violence has negated peaceful co-existence, law and order amongst the populace and militated against the consolidation of democracy in the country. Electoral violence in Nigeria has thus generated democratic deficits rather than dividends under a largely unsecured political environment. The paper recommends legal and institutional reforms, and attitudinal transformation of the character of political actors to bring credibility to the election process in order to reduce electoral violence to the barest minimum in Nigeria.
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Keywords
Electoral Violence, Military, National Security, Political Parties
Citation
Raji, S.A. (2016): Electoral violence in Nigeria and its implications for national security.