Electoral Violence of 2023 and Voters’ Turn-Out in Kogi East Senatorial District, Nigeria

Abstract

Electoral violence is a serious issue of concern in Nigeria particularly in East Senatorial District of Kogi State, owing to the current political nature of the present Nigeria where the right of the electorates is no longer respected. Election related violence in Kogi-East is threatening the survival of true democracy, thereby affecting turnout of voters. This occurrence is worrisome which brought about the need for a study of the circumstance. This study seeks to examine the both the immediate and remote causes of electoral violence and its consequential effect on voters’ turnout in the zone. The study adopted the qualitative research design using the Institutional theory as its underpinning theory. This study relied basically on secondary data and as such, the content analysis was used to analyze data to arrive at findings. The findings of the study revealed that as a result of the fear of being killed, assassinated, injured or maimed by hired political thugs and gun-runners sponsored by desperate politicians, electoral violence has significantly affected the voter turn-out in Kogi-East Senatorial District. Hence, the study recommends that the perpetrators of electoral violence, both the thugs and their paymasters including any electoral umpire found guilty of either taking part or aiding any form of electoral violence should be prosecuted and made to face the full wrath of the law to serve as a deterrent to other would-be offenders. The government should review and update electoral laws and regulations to address loopholes, strengthen enforcement mechanisms, and enhance penalties for electoral offenses among others.