POLITICAL PARTICIPATION AND CONFLICT IN NIGERIA’S ELECTORAL PROCESS COVERING (A PERIOD OF 2015-2020)

ABSTRACT

This study examines political participation and conflict in Nigeria’s electoral process covering a period of 2015-2020.

The study made use of qualitative approach which was used based on secondary sources of data. Using content analysis method of analysis, the study adopt relevant descriptive, comparative and historical methods. Through this multi-approach, several reviews of relevant materials was made and historical document critically examined. Interview analysis were used to analyze the data. The population for this study is the entire political parties that participated in the gubernatorial elections in Nigeria from the period of 2015 to 2019.

The findings showed that political participation had a significant influence in the level of democratic governance in Nigeria; it also showed that, the causes of conflict can be attributed to inefficiency on the part of INEC, godfatherism, monetization of politics, joblessness of the youths, power of the ruling party not willing to handover and many more; and it was found out that, female gender as a significant role to play in political and socio economic development in Nigeria and as well in the electioneering process as a result of their influence in the past administrations in the country.

The study concludes that political participation should involve both male and female gender with equal right and opportunity to exercise their rights and to participate in the political and socio economic development of the country, and as well as to be involved in the electoral process in the country. The study recommended that; the youths of this country should be provided with employments in order to avoid being used by disgruntled politicians during electoral process. The political structure of the country should encourage gender equality and fairness on the part of the women who might be seeking for political office. The various political parties in the country should be strengthened to act as agent of change in order to ensure the checks and balances in the political affairs of the country. The electoral administrators should be men and women of proven integrity. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should act as an independent body it was established upon in order to ensure that electoral decision process is based on true result. Women should be considered as a vital tool in any electioneering process. True democracy should be practiced in order to ensure the free participation of political parties and individuals in the electoral process of the country.

 

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1. Background to the study

Political participation is a basic concept in political science and scholars define the concept in different ways. It may be defined as the actions of  private citizens seeking to influence or support Government and politics.  Political  participation  is  the  involvement  of  the citizens  in  the  political system. Adelekan (2010)  described  political  participation  as  the  process through  which  the  individual plays a role  in  the  political life  of  his  society  and  has  the  opportunity  to  take  part in deciding  what  common  goals  of  the  society  are  and  the best  way  of achieving  these  goals.  According to Akamare  (2003)  political  participation  is  an  aspect  of political  behaviour and  it focuses  on  the  way  in  which individuals  take  part  in  politics.  It  is  a  voluntary  activity and  one  may  participate  directly  or  indirectly.  The various  ways  by  which  the  people can be involved  in the  political  system  include  selection  or election  of political  leaders,  formulation  of  policies,  community activities  and  other civic  engagements.

According  to  Awolowo and  Aluko  (2010),  the essence  of  political  participation  in  any  society,  either civilized  or  primitive,  is  to  seek  control  of  power, acquisition  of power  and  to  influence  decision  making. Political  participation  is  a means  of  contributing  ones quota  to  the  political  system  and  overall  development  of the  nation.  Political  participation  is  one  of  the fundamental  requirements of democratic  governance. This is the reason why Adelekan (2010) emphasized that  ideally, democracy means  individual participation in the decisions that  involves  one’s  life. In  a  democratic system,  there is the necessity for the citizenry to be fully involved in  the  democratic procedures of the choice of rulers and effective  communication  of  the  public policies  and attitudes.  Any claim to democratic regime or state must  essentially  embrace a  high  degree  of competitive choice, openness, and enjoyment  of civic and  political liberties and  political  participation that involves all groups of the society (Arowolo  and  Aluko, 2010).  The  extent to  which  people  participate  in  the political system differ from  person  to  person. 

Falade (2008)  identified  six  types  of  political participants.  These are, the  inactive, these  are the  people  that  take  no  part in  any political  activity, the voting specialists, these are  the people  that  get  eagerly  engaged  only  in  voting, besides voting, they  are  not concerned  about other political activities, parochial participants, these people participate  in  politics  occasionally, they vote  or get involve in any other  political activity  only  when  it  affects their personal  interest, the communalist, these are those  who  get  engaged  in  voting  regularly, they  also  get involve  in  community  affairs but they are not involved  in political campaign  activities, the campaigners, they are actively  involved in political campaign  but  inactive  in other community  affairs, complete  activists,, they are highly  involved  in  all political  activities.  They  actively participate  in  voting,  political campaign, community activities  and  make  contact  with  public  officials. Some  of  the  factors  that  determine  political participation  are cultural, economic,  political,  religious and  educational  backgrounds  of individuals. Also, the level of political awareness  as  well as  the  measure  of confidence in  the political  process  determines  the extent to  which  the  citizens  participate  in  the  political  system. 

In Nigeria, politics  is  influenced  by  money, ethnic  and religious  factors.  Since  independence  in  1960,  religious and  ethnic  politics  characterize  electioneering  process in  Nigeria. Democracy  in  Nigeria  has  three  unique  features  which  include:  insulation  of  economic  matters from  popular  participation,  manipulation  and  monopolisation  of  democratic  process  including  the  use  of violence  and  electoral  fraud  to  secure  legitimacy  and  peripheral  participation  of  citizens.  Surface-level participation  does  not have far-reaching  influence on  the  outcome of policy  choices.  According  to  Oke  (2010)  democracy  involves  the  opportunity  to  participate  in  decision  making  in  the political  process.  It  repudiates  arbitrariness  and  authoritarianism.  It  extols  the  consent  of  the  governed  and  it protects  human  personality  and  values  (Ake,  1991). 

Democracy,  whether  liberal,  African  or  modern,  includes equal  opportunity  for  all,  fundamental  recognition  of  popular  sovereignty,  representativeness,  majority  rule, minority  rights,  popular  consultation,  right  of  choice  between  alternative  programmes,  consensus  on fundamental  issues,  as  well  as  essentially periodic  elections  (Oke,  2005).  The  concept  of  democracy  confers the opportunity to participate  in  decision making  by all. Democracy  here  goes  beyond  opportunity of  election.  Although,  the centrality  of elections  to  democratic process  can  not  be over-emphasised,  democracy is not  wholly centred  on  election.  For  democracy  to  evolve good governance,  it  must be  liberal  and  participatory.  In  this  sense,  Liberal  democracy entails not only free and  fair elections in  terms  of  voting  administration,  it  requires a more comprehensive fairness of political competition  embodied  in  the  concept  of  a just and  open competition. In a liberal democracy,  the  electoral arena  is  open, and  the playing  field is reasonably level.  Only in a free society  with  opportunity  of  free  participation  and respects for citizens’ rights can good governance  be  achieved.  True  democracy  places  emphasis on freedom, and open competition,  popular  and meaningful  participation,  responsiveness,  transparency and accountability. Freedom  to  organise,  freedom  to protest  anti-people policies  and freedom to demand  and assert  citizens’  rights  and  interests,  freedom of the press  to report, investigate  and  expose  government  policies  and  actions  without fear or favour.

According to Diamond  (2005),  “only  in  a  climate  of  true  political  and civil freedom can a country  achieve  the  absolute fundamental  condition  for  development, responsible government. In a political system,  the  citizens can  be involved  in  the  political process  and decision making by joining political party, voting during election, participating in  electoral campaign, community affairs and  other political  activities.  The  level  and pattern  of political  participation of the citizens  determine,  to  some extent,  the  success  of the political system. Political participation is fundamental to the concept and practice of democracy universally. No matter the perspective from which democracy is conceptualized: citizen, elitist, representative, majoritarian, and so on, for the system to be democratic, the citizens must have a way of participating in the political process even when this is restricted to choosing political leaders at elections.

Political participation encompasses the many activities used by citizens to influence the selection of political leaders or the policies they pursue. Political participation derives from the freedom to speak out, assemble and associate, the ability to take part in the conduct of public affairs, and the opportunity to register as a candidate, to campaign, to be elected and to hold office at all levels of government. Political participation extends beyond parties, however. Individuals can also become involved in certain aspects of the electoral process through independent action particularly at the local level and by joining civil society organizations. Professional networks, trade unions, non-governmental organizations, and the media can all provide avenues for political participation. Broadly speaking, whatever citizens of any country do with the sole aim of influencing the choice of political leaders in power and the policies of government of that country constitute political participation.

Political participation also includes passive kinds of involvement, such as attending state ceremonies, supportive activities, or paying attention to what is happening in government or policies generally. The fact that the activities of citizens are sometimes not supportive of the existing policies, authorities, or structures, or that they may seek to change any or all of them makes protest behaviour part and parcel of political participation. There are two main dimensions of political participation, namely, the conventional and unconventional participation (Conway, 1991). Conventional participation refers to those activities that are accepted as appropriate by the dominant political culture voting, seeking elective office, working for a candidate or political party, writing letters to public officials these are examples of conventional forms of political behaviour. On the other hand, unconventional political participation or behaviour, according to Conway (1991), can be viewed as a continuum ranging from participating in peaceful protest march to engaging in terrorist violence or civil war. Unconventional forms of participation are not accepted as appropriate by the dominant political culture. Thus, this paper tends to focus on political participation and conflict in Nigeria’s electoral process: a study of the 2019 gubernatorial election.

1.2. Problem Statement

Generally, high level of political participation in a democracy is a clear indication of a successful egalitarian society. On the one hand, many believe inclusive political institutions to be key for conflict prevention. On the other hand, the academic literature so far, mostly focusing on the effect of regime type more generally, fails to find consistent effects – more democratic states do not clearly experience less conflict recurrence. Thus, conflict is seen as an impediment to political participation which invariably affect democratic development negatively.

However, the level of political participation in the country by the general masses is low and minimal. Some Nigerians have come to view politics as a ‘dirty game’, waste of time and energy. Still, others believe that their efforts will not change anything, that is, the outcome of politics, hence self-deluding, and so do not bother about involving in politics. However because of this there is currently a low level of political participation in Nigeria. Many Nigerians are not committed to the electoral process and other political engagements, this can be attributed to the electoral voilence and conflicts which are attacthed to it, some of which includes voter apathy, hijacking of ballot boxes, disruption of the voting process itself, irregularities from the conducting agency (INEC) amongst other reseaons. The intense nature of competition for political power especially  in the fourth republic has made violence to be associated with democracy  in Nigeria. Nigerian politicians, over the  years  have become more desperate  and daring in taking and retaining  power and more  intolerant of opposition, criticism and efforts at replacing them (Alemika, 2011).

Similarly, Omoweh and Okanya  (2005) noted  that political competition for the control of the state and its political power is now a bloody warfare as the state holds the key to wealth. The above scenario explains why election which is the means of political power acquisition in democratic governance has  been  violent  ridden  most especially  in the fourth republic. This study therefore will examine how the Nigerian political system and act of governance does not encourage mass participation. This is because of the political culture of violence, intimidation, manipulation, sentiments, money politics, ignorance, corruption, deception and apathy that characterize the political system. However the political participation is also important for the development and  sustenance of true democracy in Nigeria depends, to  a large  extent,  on  the electoral  system.  The confidence of the citizens in  the electoral  system  and  their  participation  in  the electoral process are requisites for the enthronement  of responsible  and  democratic  leaders.  Hence this study seeks to appraise and assess the level of political participation in the 2019 Gubernatorial general election.

1.3. Objectives of the study

The main aim of this study is to examine political participation and conflict in Nigeria’s electoral process.

Specific Objectives are to:

  1. assess the level of political participation in Nigeria and conflict in the Nigeria’s electoral process.
  2. identify the impact of political participation on democratic governance
  3. examine the causes of conflict in the political and electioneering process in Nigeria (case study of 2019 Gubernatorial elections)
  4. examine the gender role in the political and electioneering process in Nigeria.

 

1.4. Research questions

  1. What is the level of political participation in Nigeria and conflict in the Nigeria’s electoral process?
  2. What is the impact of political participation on democratic governance?
  3. What are the causes of conflict in the political and electioneering process in Nigeria (case study of 2019 gubernatorial elections)?
  4. What are the gender roles in the political and electioneering process in Nigeria?

1.5. Research hypotheses

H0: The political participation process has no significant impact on electoral conflict and violence.

H1: The political participation process has a significant impact on electoral conflict and violence.

1.6. Significance of study

This study will be of significance in the following ways, it will enhance the knowledge of stakeholders on the possible and likely causes of electoral conflict and violence. This study will as well be of relevance in sensitizing the public on the importance of political participation and ways by which government can influence political participation across all levels. This study will also benefit concerned government agencies involved in the electioneering process such as INEC to develop policies that will and frameworks that will reduce the menace of electoral conflict and violence.

 

1.7. Scope of study

This study will cover the political participation and conflict in Nigeria’s gubernatorial electoral process. It will cover issues spanning 2015 to 2019. The study focuses on the gubernatorial elections simply because it is the most contested elections in Nigeria and its position affect Lagos State which is regarded as the home to all political parties, and a negative effect will affect the country in terms of economic development (GDP), political development and many more.

1.8. Limitations of study

This includes unwillingness of respondents to participate, Inability to cover a large research area, time constraints among others.

1.9. Operational definition of terms

Political participation

Political participation is a basic concept in political science and scholars define the concept in different ways. It may be defined as the actions of private citizens seeking to influence or support Government and politics.

Election

Election is seen as  the process of choice agreed  upon by a group of people  which  enables them to select one of a few people out of many  to  occupy authority positions

Electoral conflict

Refers to all forms of organized acts or threats-physical,  psychological,  and structural aimed at intimidating, harming, blackmailing a political  stakeholder before, during and after an election with a view to determining,  delaying,  or  otherwise influencing an  electoral process.

1.10. Organization of the study

This work is organized into five chapters. Chapter one which is the general introduction contains the background to the study, problem statement, objectives, research questions, hypothesis, significance of the study, scope of the study and the operational definition of terms. The second chapter presents the appraisal of literature and it comprises of the conceptual and theoretical framework. Chapter three covers the level of political participation in Nigeria and conflict in the Nigeria’s electoral process and the impact of political participation on democratic governance. Chapter four covers the causes of conflict in the political and electioneering process in Nigeria (case study of 2019 Gubernatorial elections) and the gender role in the political and electioneering process in Nigeria. Chapter fiver is the conclusion and recommendation of this research.