Voter’s Apathy and Electoral Process in Nigeria

Voter’s Apathy and Electoral Process in Nigeria

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1   Background of the study

From 1999 when the new wave of democracy began in Nigeria, a steady decline in citizen’s participation in the political and electoral processes in Nigeria has been noticed. For instance, at the dawn of the Fourth Republic in Nigeria in 1999, 58 million people registered to vote in the general elections. However, only 30 million people voted. This represented 52% of voter turnout in the election (Ebenezer 2018, pg 68). In 2003, Nigeria had 60 million registered voters, but 42 million people voted, representing 70% of voter turnout. However, the decline in the involvement of the citizens in their country’s electoral process is a global phenomenon with different root causes and not a problem peculiar to African countries. Study shows that credible election constitutes a major factor in democracy, democratization and good governance globally (Moliki and Dauda, 2014) and the level of political participation through voter turnout determines the respect or disrespect a government gets from the people (Ebenezer, 2019: 142).

Elections in democracies play vital role of ensuring representation of popular will and subsequently help to secure the legitimacy of the political system. As argued by Molutisi and Singh 2013, elections are considered extremely vital to the processes of democratization and democratic consolidation because they are the most visible benchmark needed to measure the presence or absence of voter’s apathy in a democratic system. Elections are thus, the first necessary step towards democracy. However, there is global evidence of political apathy.  Political apathy represents lack of psychological involvement in public affairs, emotional detachment from civic engagements and obligations, abstention from political activities and general lack of passion in the electoral process (INEC and FES, 2011). All these have undermined the nature of politics in Nigeria. In any active political system with citizen’s political engagements in political discourse, civic obligation and public policy inclusiveness without the requisite increase in the electoral processes especially in voting during elections (National, State and Local government), such political system is seen to have voters apathy of the citizenry. Voter apathy is seen in most cases as lack of consent in the democratic or political process. And Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa is badly affected by the occurrence of voter’s apathy in her electoral process. There is unarguably a growing concern to understand it sources, causes and dimensions.

Electoral politics was introduced into Nigerian politics in 1922 with the enactment of the Clifford constitution. During this period, wider opportunity were not given to the populace as majority of the citizens were disenfranchised and since then made apathetic. Nevertheless, citizens’ apathy toward electoral engagement is still limited based on certain criterions and conditions such as unconducive political atmosphere and insecure environment. This situation is worrisome and should be a concern to the necessary bodies that is The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), political parties’ leaders, public affairs analysts, electorates, political scientist and the different level of government in recent times.

1.2   Statement of the Problem

The 2019 general election in Akwa Ibom State which was adjudged to be free and fair by various observers exhibited high presence of voter’s apathy. A close study of that election shows great disparities between the registered voters and voters who actually turned out.

In Akwa Ibom State, two million one hundred and nineteen thousand, seven hundred and twenty-seven (2,119,727) voters were registered by the INEC. Out of this, seven hundred and twenty thousand and sixty four (720,064) voters were accredited while seven hundred and twelve thousand and thirty seven (712,037) cast their votes on the election day, meaning that the election recorded 37.32% voters’ turnout.  The one million three hundred and ninety-nine thousand six hundred and sixty-three (1,399,663) representing 62.68% were inattentive toward accreditation and voting during the election day (INEC, 2019). This low percentage of voters’ turnout could be attributed to various factors. This brings the pertinent question “why do people vote? Why do they not vote?” Citizens’ vote for various reasons: for leaders to represent and support them, their interests and ideas. They expect political accountability from their political representatives with the exercise of their mandates. When these are not in view, voter apathy ensue which results in low voter turnout during elections.

There has been much concern in the past few years that the citizens are disengaging from the political process as shown by the continuing decline in voters turnout at all levels of elections. This leads to serious question of legitimacy if fewer than half of all eligible citizens vote and a winning candidate receive a little bit above 50% of the vote. Credible election is the bedrock of democracy. It requires an active citizenry because it is through discussion, popular interest in politics that societal goals are defined. Thus, without public involvement in the election process, democracy lacks both its legitimacy and its guiding force (Russell, 2002).  Voter apathy is a major issue of concern; this is because voters’ turnout is one of the main indicators to measure the level of democratic development and robustness of a country. Voter’s apathy can be as a result of many factors closely related but not limited to the democratic, economic and social development of a country.  Lack of genuine democratic practice in a country and people’s perception of not being able to influence the political process are all factors that can influence citizens’ interest during election. Any serious effort at electoral reforms in Nigeria to bring about free, fair and credible elections must take into account the challenges which result in citizens declining participation in the electoral process.

Several factors contribute to voter’s apathy. This include: real choice is limited; candidates presented by the political parties during elections are often old politicians with dented personalities and are continuously recycled by the various political parties for election; elections are riddled with tension, conflicts, crises and fraud such that it is difficult to use them as a barometer of the people’s choice; illiteracy; ignorance; poverty and failure of the government to provide social and basic human needs for the masses etc. In spite of the empirical evidence that the global trend has been toward a decline in voters’ turnout, there is lack of grounded and sustained scholarly attention to examine the causes and implications of voters’ apathy for the polity. Thus, it becomes imperative to do a study on voters’ apathy and electoral process in Nigeria using the 2019 general election in Akwa Ibom State as a case study.

1.3   Objectives of the Study

1. To evaluate the impact of electoral violence on voter’s apathy in the 2019 general election in Akwa Ibom State.
2. To examine the extent to which lack of confidence in Election Management Body contributed to voter’s apathy in the 2019 general election in Akwa Ibom State.
3. To assess the impact of Compromised Security architecture on voter’s apathy in the 2019 general election in Akwa Ibom State.

1.4   Research Questions

The following questions will guide this research:

1. What has been the impact of electoral violence on voter’s apathy in Akwa Ibom State?
2. To what extent has lack of confidence in Election Management Body contributed to voter’s apathy in Akwa Ibom State?
3. What has been the impact of Compromised Security architecture on voter’s apathy in Akwa Ibom?

1.5   Research Hypothesis

1. There is a significant relationship between electoral violence and voter’s apathy in Akwa Ibom State.
2. Lack of confidence in Election Management Body is likely to contribute to voter’s apathy in Akwa Ibom State.
3. There is a significant relationship between Compromised Security architecture and voter’s apathy in Akwa Ibom State.

1.6   Significance of the Study

The findings of this study will be significant as it will help to shed light on the causes of apathy among voters during elections in Akwa Ibom State and Nigeria at large. It will educate citizens on the importance and benefits of honestly exercising their franchise which will result in making good choices of leaders and better governance.

The government will be enlighten on the need to carry out their core responsibilities which will help restructure the mindset of citizens and motivate them to participate more actively in political activities.

Also, the study will be of great importance to the academic community as it will help to increase the volume of literature materials on Voter’s Apathy and Electoral Process in Nigeria. Furthermore, it will draw scholars’ attention to further research in similar area

1.7   Scope and Limitations of the Study

This research focuses on voter’s apathy and electoral process in Nigeria. It uses the 2019 general election in Akwa Ibom State as a case study.

A major limitation to this study was finance. Due to the limited resources of the researcher, some places where important information relevant to the study can be obtained were not visited. Also, the attitude of

some of the respondent to withhold information relevant to this research because they feel it’s a disguising act from the government to identify persons who are apathetic towards electoral processes for possible sanctions limited this work. Whence, the researcher again reassured them of the confidentiality of their information and the reality that it is strictly for academic purpose. This made the work a bit easier.

1.8 Definition of Terms

Voter turnout: this is simply the percentage of eligible voters who cast their ballots in an election. Geys (2006) insisted that it is the total number of people who vote in a given election.

Election: election is the formal process of selecting a person for public office or of accepting or rejecting a political proposition by voting.

Voter Apathy: this refers to voters not voting in elections because they feel their participation will not make a difference. It also means lack of interest among eligible voters in the elections process of their country.

A voter: this is a person who has the legal right to vote in the election of his/her country.

Electoral process: this is certainly about rules and procedures of conducting an election. It has to do with the way and method of carrying out an election. According to Gboyega (2005), it involves the method by which voters make a choice between options.

Democracy: this is a system of government in which the highest power is held by the people and exercised by them directly or indirectly through a system of representation usually involving periodic election. It refers to a form of government in which people choose their leaders by voting.