ELECTORAL VIOLENCE AND MALPRACTICES: NAVIGATING OBSTACLES TO STRENGTHENING DEMOCRACY IN NIGERIA'S FOURTH REPUBLIC

Abstract

Nigeria's electoral process is marred by electoral violence, malpractices, and other forms of misconduct, which have become widely recognised as significant challenges in her efforts towards democratic consolidation. Successive elections since the dawn of Nigeria’s Fourth Republic have been susceptible to legal disputes and violence that are undermining democratic stability. Political actors in Nigeria adopt zero-sum mentality in political competitions. This study investigates the impact of electoral malpractices and violence on democratic consolidation in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic. The research explored the elite theory; adopted qualitative and descriptive methodology, with secondary sources of information like the internet, textbooks, journals, newspapers and case study reports. The study's findings indicate the presence of severe violations of fundamental democratic norms, such as vote-buying syndrome, polling booths violence, and disregard for existing electoral regulations, which have become hindrances to democratic stability. The recommends for an institutional check on the menace of political godfatherism and the power of incumbency syndrome; prosecution of electoral violence entrepreneurs and a review of electoral acts on violence in order to bolster the legitimacy of the electoral process and safeguard democracy in Nigeria. The study concludes that electoral violence is a precursor to political apathy and delegitimisation of government which could increase military ascendancy to power in Nigeria.

Keywords: Democracy, election, electoral Malpractice, power of incumbency, violence

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