ABSTRACT

The study examines the menace of vote buying in Nigeria electoral system; issues, effect, causes and solution: a study of the 2018 Ekiti state gubernatorial election. Vote buying In Nigerian election is not a new phenomenon however; it has gotten a lot of spotlight as a result of its inherent ability of causing devastating effect on the body of politics and the democratic process of new democracies such as Nigeria. This is because vote buying has become an integral part of elections in Nigeria and has escalated to the point that some candidates add buying of votes as part of the political strategy, as they believe that manifestoes and integrity of candidates alone is not enough to win elections. This research therefore, aims to identify the manifestations, examine the impact, ascertain the catalyst and suggest possible mechanism to minimize vote buying in future Ekiti state elections. The study adopts the quantitative method been supported by the qualitative method of data collection and uses clientelism as the theoretical framework. The study discovered that vote buying largely affected the outcome of the 2018 Ekiti state gubernatorial election and identified some factors such as poverty, lack of voter’s education and poor execution of sanctions as catalyst of vote buying. It also suggests some recommendations in the bid to curb the behavior of vote buying in future Nigerian elections. The study concluded that without tackling the catalyst of vote buying in Nigeria election, the behavior of vote buying will keep on thriving.

 

 

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the study

The issue of vote buying had in recent times constituted a fundamental phenomenon in the Nigerian political system. The desire to achieve a democratic system of government has been overtaken by the issue of vote buying. This phenomenon is fast weakening the democratic institution of the economy. The nature at which votes are being traded for money aptly describes Nigeria’s electoral politics as “cash-and-carry democracy”. This situation projects grave danger for the future of the Nigerian political system if not urgently addressed.

The research examines the impact of vote buying on democratic elections in Nigeria, with specific focus on the 2018 governorship election in Ekiti State. Nigeria’s style of democracy can be linked to that of America which advocates that the absolute and supreme power remains with the people (Noah, 2006). This style of democracy in which Nigeria adopts is largely hinged on the premise that the will of the majority is done and the voice of the minority is heard. For democracy to thrive as a political system the basic features of democracy must be implemented which include periodic elections; the provision of fundamental human rights; multiply party system with candidates to choice from, amongst others (Noah, 2004). Periodic election, a feature of democracy can be said to be an indispensable characteristic of any democratic transition and the hallmark of representative democracy (Inokoba and Kumokor, 2011). This is because, it is during elections that the voices of the people are well heard and it is also recorded as an event with the highest rate of political participation by the people. Today elections are seen as the most acceptable medium by which citizens choose their leaders in an orderly, serene and peaceful exercise (Momoh, 2005). Elections could be regarded as a coin with two sides; On one side, elections give citizen’s an avenue to indicate their choice amongst candidates, manifestoes, policies, ideas and programmes presented to them by individuals vying for leadership positions while on the other side, it is also an instruments for removing unpopular and ineffective leaders as well as forcing elected officials to hearken to the plight of the people (David, Manu, and Musa, 2014). This is because the electorates hold the power to renew or cancel the tenure of every elected official. These functions of election are made possible because of the provision of the electoral process; which spells out the method to be used in selecting individuals for political offices (Nnamani, 2014).

The electoral process can be said to be the sum total of the entire operation in relations to carrying out an election from as little as performing of voter education to as great as dissolving of the National Assembly (Elekwa, 2008). It is also said to be the pre and post-election duties including guidelines put in place by the electoral officials in order for the election to run smoothly as well as for the electorates to choose representative towards catering for their interest because without such activities the election is more or less void. Activities of the electoral process include registering political parties, registering and reviewing of voters’ records, scheduling times for electoral campaigns, electoral disputes resolution, swearing elected representatives to mention a few (Nnamani, 2014). One of the activities as part of the electoral process is campaigning where candidates race to captivate the heart of the electorate with the hope of becoming the electorate’s choice. A democratic campaign is supposed to be peaceful and serene interaction. On one hand the candidates are involved in various discourse of persuasion as they vie for the most support from the electorates by presenting arguments as to why they deserve the votes of the people and on the other hand the electorates sieve through the arguments which are to become policies and select the candidate whose policy positions best or closely depicts their own set of believes, expectations or preferences (Bratton, 2008). In that vein, any action that violates the electoral process can be classified as electoral fraud or malpractice and is considered an impediment to free and fair elections. Thus, any government produced from such a marred electoral process can be termed un-democratic. In the case of Nigeria, elections is seen as winner takes all scenario, requiring  a fight to the death attitude and with such high stakes in play, there is no limit a politician would not go in order to secure votes be it fair or foul (Fafchamps and Vicente, 2013). That is why a lot of elections in Nigeria are marred with diverse methods of electoral malpractices such as electoral rigging, electoral violence include vote buying (Adamu et. al., 2016).

Vote buying is the direct exchange of benefit and material goods by the political elites to propel electoral support (Carreras and Irepoglu, 2013). It also includes buying of the voting shares or payments made to voters to influence them to vote for a specific candidate (Nichter, 2014). Election outcome in which vote buying is involved is slowly becoming normal way in which politics is played in growing democracies like Nigeria, having been transitioned from the military to the civilian era (Ovwasa, 2013). This is because the civilian administration aims to present an appearance of free and fair election, implement universal adult suffrage and following the electoral processes and Nigerian politicians make use of such desires through campaigning to manipulate the electoral rules by inducing material benefit to the electorate so as to acquire mass support (Bratton, 2008).

1.2 Statement of the Problem

Election is a medium for the voice of the people to be heard. This has been norm as far back as the Greek city state where ‘show of hands” in support of a decision to be taken was carried out. Today elections have become a significant pillar of democracy and a means of legitimizing the decisions of government (David, Manu and Musa, 2014). In that vein, anything that is an impediment to elections, infringes on the ability of citizens to have their voice heard which affects an essential pillar of democracy (Adamu, Ocheni and Ibrahim, 2016). Nigeria the giant of Africa whose democracy and elections are closely watched by the international community; as a testimony of the growth of democracy and the  possibility free and fair elections in the region, is still challenged with vote buying in its elections (Baidoo, Dankwa and Eshun, 2018). The presence of vote buying in Nigeria’s elections especially that of 2018 Ekiti and osun state gubernatorial election as noised by INEC has raised some critical questions about the credibility of such election and her democracy (Akinkuotu, 2018). These questions include how free or fair can elections be when some candidates have bought the votes of the electorate even before the election? How can the principle of equality exist when vote buying gives more advantages to the wealthy over the poor? How responsible will the elected leaders be to the electorate when vote buying as an electoral transaction implies that the politicians have paid for the vote of the electorate? (Neeman and Orosel, 2008; Jensen and Justesen 2014; Adamu, et. al., 2016). The presence of vote buying in Nigeria’s elections in addition to the questions raised, gives room for concern about 2018 governorship election in Ekiti state and the future of elections Nigeria. This research therefore, seeks to ascertain the presence of vote buying in the 2018 Governorship election in ekiti state, how truth are the question raised against vote buying in Ekiti state and what are the implications of vote buying to Nigeria’s future elections and democracy focusing on Ekiti State .

 

1.3 Objectives of the Research

In accordance with the problem and research questions the overall objective of the research is to investigate the menace of vote buying in Nigeria electoral system; issues, effect, causes and solution.

Specifically, the objectives are to:

1. To examine the manifestations of Vote buying in the 2018 Governorship election in Ekiti state
2. To determine the impact of Vote Buying on the 2018 Governorship election in Ekiti
3. To ascertain the factors that encouraged vote buying in the 2018 Governorship election in Ekiti States State
4. To identify ways by which vote buying can be minimized in future elections in Ekiti State

 

1.4 Research questions

1. What are the manifestations of Vote buying in the 2018 Governorship election in Ekiti state?
2. What is the impact of Vote Buying on the 2018 Governorship election in Ekiti?
3. What are the factors that encouraged vote buying in the 2018 Governorship election in Ekiti States State?
4. What are the ways by which vote buying can be minimized in future elections in Ekiti State?

 

1.5 Research Hypothesis

Some hypotheses were made in the null form to guide the research. These hypotheses are as follows:

H_O1: There were no manifestations of vote buying in 2018 Governorship election in Ekiti state.