THE 2019 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IN NIGERIA: REFLECTING ON THE MALFEASANCE CALLED ELECTORAL VIOLENCE
Election is universally acknowledged as a process by which electorates choose their leaders. Credibility of an election lies on the freeness and fairness of the entire electoral process in the absence of infraction or violence. Regrettably, Nigeria’s election is characterized by the history of insecurity arising from electoral violence. This study examined the phenomenon of electoral violence during Nigerian elections focusing on the 2019 presidential election. The postcolonial theory was adopted as framework of analysis. Data were collected through documentary method and were analyzed qualitatively. The study found among others that the 2019 presidential election was marred by incidents of electoral violence arising from desperate attempts by the political class to outdo their opponents and gain electoral advantage, and recommended inter alia a legislation that should disqualify any political party or its candidates found to incite violence or make speeches capable of inducing tension before, during and after elections.
Keywords: Presidential election, electoral violence, insecurity, political party, political class, documentary method, postcolonial state.
