An Examination of Violence on Elections: A Case Study of the 2023 Presidential and National Assembly Elections in Lagos State

Abstract

This paper made an examination of violence on elections in Nigeria, zeroing in on the 2023 Presidential and National Assembly elections in Lagos State. The paper examined the multifarious examination of violence on elections within the timeframe highlighted above to ascertain the extent and level to which the outcome of elections were negatively affected by violence. The paper also appraised the various factors that precipitated violence and considered modalities and strategies of how the recurring decimal of violence can be realistically nipped in the bud. The paper equally delved into the role of the police in managing security and preventing violence during elections in the country. These are some of the objectives of the paper, while appropriate research questions were posed. The paper used the secondary data method of analysis which focused essentially on books, journal articles, newspapers, monographs, lectures, seminar papers, judicial pronouncements, online materials, 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 2022 Electoral Act etc. The theoretical framework adopt is the theory of political violence which centered on rationale choice model. The paper concluded that for Nigeria’s government to enjoy far-reaching legitimacy, violence coupled with ethnic identity and religious bigotry must be jettisoned. Election results must reflect the desires and wishes of the overall interests of the generality of the people. And, the paper recommended that Nigeria should as a matter of urgent national importance shift from First-Past-The- Post (FPTP) to Proportional Representation (PR) to reduce the propensity for do or die elections, which leads to violence and also criminal elements or electoral offenders that perpetrate electoral violence must be brought to book instantly not to encourage the culture of impunity and government should endeavour to set up the Criminal Offences Commission to prosecute electoral offenders as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is already overburdened with variegated responsibilities; and, the perks and perquisites of political offices should be drastically reduced, political offices are overtly attractive, which has made power to be pursued with deadly seriousness, everything is set out to win elections at all cost, retain power and prevent others from coming on board, this sorry pass must be discouraged.