DEMOCRATIC CONSOLIDATION AND VOTER APATHY IN NIGERIA

DYNAMICS, TRENDS AND IMPLICATIONS

Authors

  • Chibuike E MADUBUEGWU Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, NIGERIA
  • Ogbonna Moses AGUDIEGWU Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu Alike Ikwo, NIGERIA
  • Vincent O ONYIA Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, NIGERIA
  • Vincent Onyeayanachi ODOH Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu Alike Ikwo, NIGERIA
  • Steve EGBO Nigeria Television Authority, NTA, Abuja, NIGERIA

Keywords:

Democratic consolidation, Voter apathy, Voter enthusiasm

Abstract

Election is an ideal of democracy. And, the participation of people in this democratic process underscores the substance of representative governance beyond symbolism. Sadly, emerging and advanced democracies across the world is today challenged by the unpleasant phenomena of voter apathy. In Nigeria, observations and studies have shown the declivity of voter turnout in recent national and sub-national elections. Acknowledging this factuality, this paper examines the historical dynamics of voter apathy and its causality in Nigeria’s electoral democracy. The methodology of this study is qualitative design where the authors adopted a documentary source and non-participant observation methods of data collection and textual analysis of data and events. It revealed persistence trend of voter apathy sustained by exacerbating conditions with adverse effects on democratic consolidation. The paper whence opines that measures to reverse the trend of voter apathy in Nigeria is streamlined in two dimensional perspectives to strengthen the process of democratic consolidation through voter enthusiasm.

Author Biographies

Chibuike E MADUBUEGWU, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, NIGERIA

Department of Political Science

Ogbonna Moses AGUDIEGWU, Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu Alike Ikwo, NIGERIA

Department of Political Science

Vincent O ONYIA, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, NIGERIA

Department of Political Science

Vincent Onyeayanachi ODOH, Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu Alike Ikwo, NIGERIA

Department of Mass Communication

Steve EGBO, Nigeria Television Authority, NTA, Abuja, NIGERIA

Administration and Training Directorate

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Published

2020-08-07

How to Cite

MADUBUEGWU, C. E., AGUDIEGWU, O. M., ONYIA, V. O., ODOH, V. O., & EGBO, S. (2020). DEMOCRATIC CONSOLIDATION AND VOTER APATHY IN NIGERIA: DYNAMICS, TRENDS AND IMPLICATIONS. Socialscientia: Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, 5(2). Retrieved from https://journals.aphriapub.com/index.php/SS/article/view/1112

Issue

Vol. 5 No. 2 (2020)

Section

Articles