Political instability occurs when elections are not free and fair. Over the years, nigeria has been fertile ground for the perpetration of various acts of violence. The research did not include terrorist attacks by islamic or militant groups with. Political violence and its effects on social development. The need for violentfree elections is what has motivated cada to examine some of the common causes of election violence and how to prevent their occurrences. Government must act against political violence, end electionrelated abuses. Violent conflict in nigeria relates to a variety of different causes. This may have existed for hundreds of years and have causes that are very deeprooted. In a free and fair election, each valid ballot cast registers a political position. To know the role of library and information as a tool for conflict resolution in nigeria. Political violence and its effects on social development in nigeria. Rights abuse as root causes of political violence in nigeria.
Causes and effects of political violence in the world today violence between groups is often caused by fear and hatred. The link between electoral violence and nigerias 2003 and 2007 elections is analysed based on hoglunds analytical framework of electoral violence, as well as its. Such situations are not easily resolved, since both sides are deeply conscious of historical grudges and believe that they must fight to. Causes and dynamic of political violence in nigeria. The problem was more pronounced in the 2019 election in taraba state. The main objective of the paper is to answer the question. The recent 2016 post election crisis in gabon12 that left scores dead seems to shows that electoral violence is an intractable phenomenon on the. Breaking the cycle of electoral violence in nigeria united states. Political violence an overview sciencedirect topics. The purpose of this study was to analyze the role played by human rights abuse in nigeria in the formation of the oodua peoples congress opc in 1994, and to also analyze the opc turning to violence in 1999. As already pointed out, nigeria has experienced both intra ad inter religious violence. Credible election abhors violence, which inhibits voters right to. The study reveals that the major causes of the phenomenon include.
Issues of conflict, political violencecrisis and insurgency in nigeria. Political violence in zambia and state responsibility muna ndulo professor of law, cornell university law school, and director cornell institute for african development. This article examines the 2011 nigerian postelection violence with regard to the ways in which national electoral processes interweave with local social and political disputes. Violence is not simply the exercise of physical force to get something done. Causes and effect of domestic violence in nigeria a case study of ajegunle lagos chapter one.
Since then, the trend line seems to be decreasing but still remains close to 50 percent. The causes of political violence in nigeria in the north and south of the country there are potential combustible human materials to destabilize the. In everyday life, there appear to be a rise in poverty, crimes, war. Testing democracy political violence in nigeria hrw. Causes of electoral violence in africa written by ngah. The radical islamist group boko haram has contributed to widespread and deadly violence in nigeria, but the government sercurity services are also at. The type of violent and crime related activities include. Also honorary professor of law, faculty of law university of cape town and extra ordinary professor of law faculty of law free state university. It then discusses the interventions that can break the link. Fsi spice social conflict and political violence in africa. Given the democratic credentials of ghana, election violence in any form and on any scale is unacceptable and we must all work towards achieving violentfree elections.
One of these forms in through participating in conflict as a child soldier or other forms of participation with armed groups. There must be a conscious effort to reach the voters physically to demonstrate and educate them on the need to carry out their. Permit me to cite these cases in an unchronological order. House of representatives human rights commissions human rights commission. We decided to take a look at the possible solutions and major causes of violence in nigeria from a different angle naijaquest. An election that is not free and fair is one of the major causes of political instability in many countries across the globe.
The political disruption caused by ethnic militia related violence in nigeria prevented the first 3 attempts at republican democracy. Causes and effects of political violence in the world. To find out causes of political violence crisis and insurgency in nigeria. The causes, consequences and solutions to forced child. For one thing, it is the exercise of force, or more generally power, in such a way as to harm others in pursuit of ones own ends. However, in order to do justice, it will be proper to classify these factors according to the nature of the violence.
Election is a civic duty that is crucial to democracy. Mapping, evolution and patterns june 2006 may 2014 executive summary an analysis of the nigeria watch database for the period between june 2006 and may 2014 revealed 915 fatal incidents related to elections. Perhaps because of the experience i personally had in 2011 about electoral violence which i still share some sentiments with. Elections threatened by violence and abuse of power. To proffer appropriate solutions that will help address the lingering political violence in nigeria. Based on the foregoing major assumptions of the theory, the perspective has been adopted as the theoretical guide on the study of the effects of political violence on social development in nigeria. What are the root causes of boko haram political violence. Causes of religious violence many factors are responsible for religious violence in nigeria. Nonetheless, the many causes of political violence overlap across states and defy easy classification. The the causes, consequences and solutions to causes, consequences and solutions tocauses, consequences and solutions to forced forced forced child marriage child marriage child marriage in the developing worldin the developing world testimony submitted to u. From ethnic conflicts to religious conflicts to terrorist attacks, violence seems to be a neverending trend. Causes of political violence in nigeria when the leaders are legitimately elected, most of the strife or violence are abated. Causes of electoral violence in africa written by ngah gabriel sous dir. Political violence varies widely in form, severity, and practice.
Nigeria watch data on the causes of deaths 20062018 records the three biggest causes of deaths to be. Media, elections and political violence in eastern africa. Political violence poses a serious threat to the legitimacy of the state and federal elections that will take. Boko haram, ummah, political violence, inequality and injustice. Domestic violence has caused so many issues in the life of many nigerians. The most common and easily recognisable type is physical violence, which involves the. For the purpose of clarity, the paper focuses on the manifestations of election violence in nigerian political process. The cause of these conflicts or violence could be traced to primordial factors associated with selfish interest of political contenders to retain or seek electoral post, ethnic, religious bigotry, and structural imbalance of its federalism system, bad governance, political intolerance and electoral malpractice. Violence between and within political parties in nigeria. Today, religious violence in nigeria is dominated by the boko haram insurgency, which aims to establish an islamic state in nigeria. Whereas national processes connected to preelection violence have received increased scholarly attention, little is known of local dynamics of violence after elections. It causes injury or death, including potentially to.
Social conflict and political violence in africa is a complex subject, and it will be useful to note a few trends in african civil violence, discuss a common but misleading explanations for civil wars in africa, and then suggest two alternative framing for the patterns observed. The electoral umpire has a major task to carry out educating the voters on the dos and donts before, during and after elections. Several reasons are actually responsible for electoral violence in nigeria. The implication perspective frankcollins nnamdi okafor associate professor and head, department of political science, nnamdi azikiwe university, nigeria abstract following the outbursts of violence in previous elections in nigeria, fears have been.
But then what is obtainable in our country nigeria is not election but selection. Causes and remedy money wont create success, the freedom to make it will. Causes of conflicts in africa conflicts in africa may be said to have been caused by a multiplicity of factors such as. Causes and solutions to youth violence in nigeria the youths are the major part of the nigerian population as shown by statistics and data on record, which conforms to the globally accepted view that the youths of today are the nation of tomorrow. Methods of the study this is an exploratory study that utilizes qualitative research techniques in trying to critically evaluate issues concerning the relationship between mass media activities and political violence in nigeria. Experience with political violence can take many forms. In this essay, we set out to clarify the key terms, explain the major causes of political violence, examine the effects with references, and finally proffer solutions that can help curb violence in our promising country, nigeria. In political science, a common organizing framework is to consider types of violence by the relevant actors. Pdf voting and violence in nigerias 2015 elections 1. Political violence poses a serious threat to the legitimacy of the state and federal elections that will take place in nigeria from april 12 to may 3, 2003. It discusses the effects of food insecurity on several types of conflict, and the political, social, and demographic factors that may exacerbate these effects.
The theory is based upon the view that the fundamental causes of political violence are the social and economic forces that operates within society. Pdf this paper titled political violence and the sustainability of nigerian democracy seeks to establish the causes of political violence in nigerian. A decade of electoral violence in africa, 2004 to 20 electoral violence has, in certain instances, catalyzed prolonged political conflict. Causes and consequences of violence in nigeria punch. Past election cycles have featured political assassinations, voter intimidation, intra and. Electoral violence in nigeria council on foreign relations.
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