Examining the Nexus Between Nigerian Politics & the Menace of Vote-Buying, Violence, and Corruption

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Politics: By Caleb Faniyan

The 2023 general elections in Africa’s most populous country have come and gone, leaving several people injured, dead, or devastated in its wake. Nigeria is a country with a rich cultural heritage and history. However, it also has a long history of political instability, and this has also been proven in its latest elections. For a country in its Fourth Republic, Nigeria’s political space has always been plagued with vices such as thuggery, violence, corruption, and vote-buying. These vices, which have become the bane of Nigerian politics and have posed a significant threat to the country's democracy, were displayed during the 2023 general elections.

Before the general elections, primary elections were conducted in various political parties to fulfill the requirements of the electoral act. As simple as this exercise was meant to be, it was characterized by heavy vote-buying and inducement of delegates, especially in the two dominant political parties of Nigeria, the People’s democratic party (PDP) and the All progressives Congress (APC). Despite these irregularities, the primary elections conducted in different political parties produced Presidential candidates such as Bola Ahmed Tinubu (APC), Atiku Abubakar (PDP), Peter Obi (LP), Omoyele Sowore (AAC), Rabiu Kwankwanso (NNPP), Adewole Adebayo (SDP), amongst others.

In the buildup to the general elections, the Nigerian social media space was nothing to write home about. Several messages, comments, posts, and tweets during this period were filled with hate and bigotry targeted at people of different tribes. Unfortunately, these attacks did not end on social media as they translated to acts of violence on the day of the elections. Politicians used political thugs to intimidate opponents, disrupt elections, steal ballot boxes, disenfranchise people, and cause chaos on the day of elections. The acts of violence witnessed on the day of the elections were unprecedented, resulting in the loss of lives and property. 

Despite these unfortunate events and several irregularities, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced the presidential candidate of the All progressives congress, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the winner of the 2023 elections. The commission also described the electoral process as “free” and “fair,” despite the news from different parts of the country that prove otherwise.