Socio-Political Activity and Criminalization of Politics in Cross River South Senatorial District, Nigeria

Abstract

This research was an evaluation of the extent to which socio-political activities relate to criminalization of politics in Cross River South Senatorial District, Nigeria. More specifically, the study was geared towards ascertaining the extent at which vote buying relates with criminalization of politics. To achieve this cardinal objective, one hypothesis was formulated to guide the study. The Pluralist theory was used as the theoretical framework of the study. Cross sectional research design was adopted for the study. The population of the study comprises of the people residing in Cross River South Senatorial District. Through the use unstructured interview and questionnaire, a sample of four hundred 400 respondents was selected from the study area using a multi-staged sampling technique. Hypotheses were tested using Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient Analysis. The study concluded that vote buying is now a norm in Nigeria political system which otherwise has led to criminalization of politics in the study area. The findings of the study revealed that there is a significant relationship between vote buying and criminalization of politics. From these findings this research advocates among others that, the economic and financial crimes commission (EFCC) and independent corrupt practices and other related offences commission (ICPC) must be repositioned to play critical roles by punishing offenders of vote buying and the criminalization of politics. This will help to fish out those behind this security problem in Nigeria which the end result is violence.