AN EXAMINATION OF THE EFFECT OF VIOLENCE DURING THE NIGERIA 2023 GENERAL ELECTIONS IN LAGOS STATE

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background to the Study

The election process is the core of every stable and successful democratic state (Osakwe, 2019). Election can be described as an act of choosing or selecting candidates who will represent the people of a country in the parliament and in other positions in government. Through election the popular will of the electorate is expressed and realized. In modern democratic system, election is one of the principles of choosing a leaders (Schumpetor 2017). According to Albert (2017), It is a crucial means by which voters choose their leaders and, in doing so, contribute significantly to the identification of the kind of growth they want. Despite the importance of elections in democracies and the need for secure, peaceful, free, and fair elections for a stable society and sustainable democracy, 'elections in Nigeria have been marked by a great deal of violence, (Ochoche 2016).

The Nigeria general election of 2023 was held in an insecure and volatile political climate. The elections were conducted under rising insecurity caused by terrorist actions livestock herders, banditry, kidnappings, separatist group threats, and activity by hidden cults. Not ignoring religion and ethnicity as potential causes of electoral violence in Nigeria's 2023 general election. According to Oluwatope (2019), the politicization of religion and the ethnicity of politics in Nigeria is one of the major obstacles to socioeconomic and political growth. The necessity for socioeconomic and political growth cannot be overstated in light of Nigeria's prominent position in the African Subregion and on the continent. Indeed, every social organization is supposed to adhere to its purpose. Politics, religion, and ethnicity seem to be intertwined in the exacerbation of various ethnoreligious conflicts in Nigeria. This intensity may be seen as the primary cause of ongoing discrimination, subjection, and dominance in the nation. The Nigerian society is religiously, racially, and politically split, and this has had a detrimental influence on the country's development plans.

Free and fair election acts as one of the prerequisites of a healthy democracy. But it is evident in transitional democratic countries like Nigeria, that election and violence go hand in hand threatening the credibility of the electoral process. Election violence is not a new phenomenon in many countries around the world especially in Nigeria, and different forms of electoral violence are common in practice, along with loss of life on the day of the elections and the destruction of property before, during, and after the elections (Akwei 2018).

Ogheneakoke (2016) opined that the conduct of general elections in Nigeria from 1960 to the present has been plagued by crises and undemocratic practices, including mass rigging, riots, abduction, murder, ballot box theft, and thuggery, among others. It is interesting to note that politicians are ruthlessly intent on seizing political power at any cost, while disregarding the sanctity of rule of law and protection of the rights of electorates from political intimidation and imposition of governance that is not genuinely generated from the popular mandate of the electorate. This terrible condition poses threats to the Nigerian democracy's long-term growth.

According to Emeaku (2019), electoral violence encompasses all sorts of organized activities including the use of threats and intimidation to injure and blackmail a political opponent in order to decide, postpone, or influence a political process. If the objective justifies the means, then the political class may continue to manipulate the democratic process via electoral violence. Violence restricts people's involvement in the election process and facilitates the imposition of candidates, programs, and policies, which incites violent responses from losers and the voters. Hence, to Kean (2023), violence is "the worst opponent of democracy." in the light of the above this study seeks to investigate the effect of violence during the Nigeria 2023 general elections in Lagos State.

The history of elections in Lagos State in the recent times has been characterized by electoral fraud and violence associated with political tensions perpetrated by some political candidates, non-state armed groups, and unprofessional conduct of few staff of the election management Body – Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and state security forces of which the just concluded 2023 presidential election is no exception. obviously, the Nigeria 2023 presidential election engulfed the media were with reports of compromise, subversion of democracy.

1.2 Statement of the Problems

One of the indicators of a democratic state is elections. It is the process through which candidates contest for political posts in a nation. This practice is met with conflicting reactions in Lagos State, and Nigeria in general. The heterogeneity of the country and the clientele-based character of government agencies have made election a difficult phenomena for parties committed to the ideal practice of democracy. Election outcomes in Nigeria are barely acceptable due to election results manipulation, corruption, outright rigging, perversion of justice, and violence. Throughout the decades, misrule and persecution coupled by egregious human rights abuses have become an intractable problem in Nigeria and Africa as a whole, where (democratic instability) has become an increasingly pressing issue (Sofekun, Oyakhiromen, Ige and Obayemi, 2018).

According to Kean (2023), Lagos State's presidential election of 2023 was plagued by significant logistical difficulties. The large number of political parties competing in the election looked to have exceeded INEC's logistical capacities, including its capacity to make timely purchases. The Situation Room witnessed material acquisition, deployment, and sufficiency issues. There were reports of crucial election documents being supplied to the incorrect places, which led to the observed delays in the start of voting. In addition, several electorates saw a great deal of violence during the 2023 general election in Lagos State, including the theft of ballot boxes by electoral thugs, the destruction/burning of ballot papers, the vandalization of polling units, etc. In light of this, the purpose of this research is to investigate the effect of violence during the Nigeria 2023 general elections in Lagos State.

1.3 Objectives Of The Study

The primary objective of this study is to examine the effect of violence during the Nigeria 2023 general elections in Lagos State. Other objectives of this study are

1. Ascertain the prevalence of electoral violence during the Nigeria 2023 general elections in Lagos State.

2. Find out the causes of electoral violence during the Nigeria 2023 general elections in Lagos State.

3. Find out the forms of electoral violence during the 2023 Presidential election.

4. Ascertain the influence of electoral violence on 2023 general elections in Lagos State.

1.4 Research Questions

The study will be guided by the following questions;

1. What is the prevalence of electoral violence during the Nigeria 2023 general elections in Lagos State?

2. What are the causes of electoral violence during the Nigeria 2023 general elections in Lagos State?

3. What are the forms of electoral violence during the 2023 Presidential election?

4. What is the influence of electoral violence on 2023 general elections in Lagos State?

1.5 Significance of the Study

The study is essential because it identifies the causes of political violence in Lagos state and informs the government of the need of addressing the issue to prevent future occurrences. Also, it will add to the body of information on political violence in Nigeria. While there have been many works published on electoral violence and political involvement at different tertiary institutions, particularly in Nigeria, few have delved into the underlying meanings of electoral violence and political participation. It is hoped that this work will be of great assistance and guidance to various students in tertiary institutions in Lagos state in particular and Nigeria as a whole regarding the need to revive electoral violence and political participation in Nigeria, especially during the 2023 general election, as this will be of great assistance in various stages of Nigeria in the state's ethnically diverse communities.

1.6 Scope Of The Study

The study boarders on the examination of the effect of violence during the Nigeria 2023 general elections in Lagos State. Geographically the study will be delimited to Yaba, Lagos State.

1.8 Limitation of the Study

Like in every human endeavour, the researcher encountered slight constraints while carrying out the study. Insufficient funds tend to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature, or information and in the process of data collection, which is why the researcher resorted to a limited choice of sample size. More so, the researcher simultaneously engaged in this study with other academic work. As a result, the amount of time spent on research will be reduced.

Moreover, the case study method utilized in the study posed some challenges to the investigator including the possibility of biases and poor judgment of issues. However, the investigator relied on respect for the general principles of procedures, justice, fairness, objectivity in observation and recording, and weighing of evidence to overcome the challenges.

1.9 Definition of Terms

Violence: behaviour involving physical force intended to hurt, damage, or kill someone or something.

Election: a formal and organized choice by vote of a person for a political office or other position.

Politics: the activities associated with the governance of a country or area.