While between may 1994 and june 1999, the worry about voter apathy largely pertained to byelections, the trend has changed altogether following the november 2000 local government elections and the may 2004 general elections. Are the reasons for voter apathy different for these groups. Belief that vote doesnt count many americans have doubts that their vote will be counted or that it even matters. Political apathy can also be defined as the lack of interest in being active in politics either by voting or been voted for, i.
With several coups, general strikes and a civil war, nigerians have had to experience some of the most sordid tragedies arising from difference of opinions and distrust. Voter apathy has its causes, but yali has solutions. Jega laments voters apathy in nigeria vanguard news. Nigeria has not been without its fair share of conflict. If nigeria wants to avoid all the political issues listed and explained here, politics in the country should not be taken as game again. It is important to take a myopic view and explore it within the context of the nation you are exploring. During my political activities i meet many people and i have been struck by the apathy displayed by a substantial number of them towards maltese politics. Sep 08, 2018 causes of electoral violence in nigeria.
Democracy originated from the greek words and from the greek citystate of athens where democracy emerged as a check on despotic aristocracy. Voter apathy is a problem well known to europe and nigeria, but with different root causes. Discussed are political crisesissues in nigeria, causes and the possible solutions. Sep 04, 2018 unfortunately, in nigeria, elections in have been characterized by lack of feeling of personal responsibility, a passivity and indifference for political affairs which could be viewed as apathy. Pdf voters apathy and revival of genuine political. If we are worsted in the great conflict after doing all that it is in our power to do, the fault is not ours. And as elaborated above, most of the causes of high voter apathy spring from the politicians we put in political offices themselves.
The obvious answer to this question is that if there is an option to be involved in politics and the public dont participate, then the danger is that a minority will install a government that doesnt have the interests of the majority in their ag. Mar 25, 2008 nigeria, a rapidly urbanizing and industrializing society, is currently faced with many environmental problems. D department of public administration and local government university of nigeria, nsukka abstract it has been highlighted in this study that political apathy is a seemingly innocuous issue in the. Good governance consolidates democracy and undermines electoral malpractice. Causes, effects, solution and rate of unemployment in nigeria the causes of unemployment are practically what happen in all sectors. Political participation and political apathy in nigeria. Finding of the study revealed that teachers perceived all forms of electoral malpractice and bad governance as some of the causes of political apathy.
The following points below are the reasons why people fail to participate in political issues. If this is a truism, then nigerias educational system is supposed to help her overcome the problem of terrorism that is shaking it to its foundation. This article is an examination of democracy and political apathy in nigeria between 1999 and 2011. Hence, the need to consider the causes of voterpolitical apathy in nigeria. The descriptive survey research type was adopted for this study. The following factors are responsible for electoral violence in nigeria.
Abstract this paper examined the perceived causes of political apathy among yenagoa residents in bayelsa state, nigeria. The dissertation, which was a crosssectional descriptive survey, aimed at investigating the causes and effects of political violence in berekum. Jul 08, 2014 political apathy and nigerian democracy. News programs do not provide substantive coverage of candidates and their views on issues, offering instead sound clips and opinions from biased panelists. It is in the light of this that this paper examines terrorism and insecurity in nigeria and proffered moral, values and religious education as panaceas.
Political apathy is the indifference on the part of any citizen of any country with regard to their attitude towards political activities. Pdf the nexus between causes of boko haram and its effect. Its main proposition is that bad governance was responsible for apathy in nigerias democracy from 1999 to 2011. The study on the nexus between boko haram, causes and its effect on nigeria economy examines the causes of boko haram and its effect on nigeria economy. Pdf the nexus between causes of boko haram and its. Using the yali elections course, gono recently organized an event on political engagement to help empower his countrys young leaders. How have government policies, politicians, inec operations, media, civil. This paper examined the perceived causes of political apathy among yenagoa residents in bayelsa state, nigeria. In this article, we will treat some of the reasons for political apathy in nigeria, we will also cover the types of apathy in nigeria and also their main causes. This paper, thus seeks to unravel practical reasons behind the level of voters apathy in the just concluded elections in nigeria.
Voter apathy has its causes, but yali has solutions yali. This research focuses on political participation and political apathy which has been a topical issue in nigerias democratic fabric. In this dimension, whoever that finds his or her name in the register of any of the numerous political groupings that pretend to be political parties in nigeria, would. Political violence and its effects on social development in nigeria aver, tyavwase theophilus. Political apathy is the path to imbalance of power which may lead to revolutions and civil wars. It is worthy of note that this political and social vice has causes.
This includes lack of interest in elections, political events, public meetings, and voting. Effects of political apathy in nigeria flashacademy. A case study of 2019 governorship election research. Political apathy can also be defined as the lack of interest in being active in politics either by voting or been voted for.
The research did not include terrorist attacks by islamic or militant groups with. The government of nigeria for instance rules in a bad and carefree manner, their act does not motivate people thereby making people to ignore and nonchalant to political activities. Nigeria, a rapidly urbanizing and industrializing society, is currently faced with many environmental problems. In the study on which this article is based, the author found social restraints, feelings of futility, and the absence. As a result of this, the ingredients of democracy have not been able to thrive after many years of political independence in nigeria. Voter apathy study1 ace electoral knowledge network. The nigerias environment is not different and its political culture is probably the most difficult to generalize not only because of its cultural and linguistic diversity of the nigerian people also because of other factors such as religion, ethnicity, regional. Negative political news coverage and negative political ads create cynicism in many americans, which leads to apathy. Hence, the need to consider the causes of voter political apathy in nigeria. Unfortunately, in nigeria, elections in have been characterized by lack of feeling of personal responsibility, a passivity and indifference for political affairs which could be viewed as apathy. Studies indicate that many nigerians are not dedicated to the electoral process for the reason that the political and governance system does not.
Election rigging chews aggressively at the very heart of democracy, standard of living and the level of trust placed on the government by the hoi polloi. Political apathy allows a government to be carefree in their activities. Jun 18, 20 corruption and abuse of office is one of the causes of electoral malpractices. When considering the causes of unemployment we look at the economic condition and demography of the country. Electoral turnout since the return of democratic rule in nigeria. Many citizens have given up political participation because of various reasons. For example, in the just concluded 2019 presidential election, it was reported that about 45% of the total number of people in nigeria, didnt exercise their franchise. When following election returns, they may see that their state has been decl. Mapping, evolution and patterns june 2006 may 2014 executive summary an analysis of the nigeria watch database for the period between june 2006 and may 2014 revealed 915 fatal incidents related to elections. It should be taken as what calls for selfless service. Its main objective is to find out the dangers of political apathy in nigerias democracy. What are the causes of political apathy in america.
Corruption and abuse of office is one of the causes of electoral malpractices. Voters apathy which is a subset of political apathy has continued to haunt nigerias voting exercise. Analysing the effects of voting apathy in democracy politics. It attempted to find out the dangers of political apathy in nigerias democracy during. What are the causes and effect of political apathy in nigeria.
Pdf voters apathy and revival of genuine political participation. Political apathy is a denial of political education. Political violence and its effects on social development in. A psychological analysis of the causes of voter turnout pdf. Voter apathy has its causes, but yali has solutions kenyan protesters carry giant mock babies to represent what they claimed was the childish apathy of the kenyan people and the need for the country to grow up during a 2014 demonstration against the government.
Find out the perceived causes of political apathy among yenagoa residents in bayelsa state, nigeria. Oct 26, 2019 what are the causes of political apathy in america 1. While there is empirical evidence that the global trend has been toward a decline in voter turnout, there is lack of grounded and sustained scholarly attention to voter apathy in the context of voter turnout in nigeria despite the challenges plaguing that. Finding also showed good governanceleadership and enabling environment for free and fair election among others as perceived remedies to political apathy in nigeria. That is a list of the the major causes of brain drain in nigeria.
Political apathy is a common phenomena in nigeria today. The political culture in nigeria is characterized by intolerance, intimidation, thuggery, assassination, bitterness, apathy, indolence, money and ethnic politics. Misconception of politics influence the electoral system of nigeria. Four major factors associated with voters apathy to include. When following election returns, they may see that their state has been declared for a candidate and think, why bother. Electoral corruption and fraud, furthermore, the following could serve as incentives for electoral violence in nigeria. The implication perspective frankcollins nnamdi okafor associate professor and head, department of political science, nnamdi azikiwe university, nigeria abstract following the outbursts of violence in previous elections in nigeria, fears have been. Analysing the effects of voting apathy in democracy. Beginning with an explanation of the ways in which apathy is apparent within politics, i then attempt to address its causes, concluding that feelings of disconnection and disenchantment with political parties, along with social status and education, are the main determinants of political participation. Why is political apathy so important in the modern world and especially concerning democracy. Determine whether male and female residents in yenagoa differ in their perception of the causes of political apathy in bayelsa state, nigeria. Voters apathy and revival of genuine political participation in nigeria article pdf available in mediterranean journal of social sciences 43 september 20 with 5,989 reads.
The problem of voter apathy has steadily become a major issue of concern since the may 1994 founding democratic elections. A large chunk of the uk public choose not to vote in political elections. Some determinants of political apathy by morris rosenberg the widespread political apathy in america has caused much concern among politicians and social scientists. Political apathy is a feeling of disinterest in the sense of politics or apathy towards politics. Political apathy is one of the major challenges of democracy in nigeria today. Adeyemi and adeyemi 2003 express concern over the situation of politics in nigeria, when they observed that during the ward congress of the pdp, an intraparty affair, many.
When government doesnt listen to the yearnings of the people, or is carefree about their feelings, there is bound to be general lack of interest towards activities of the government. Below are some of the reasons for political apathy. Recent events in kenya, ivory coast, nigeria, egypt and libya among others point to the salience of the phenomenon. Five studies on the causes and consequences of voter turnout.
In fact, no decade of postindependent nigeria has been conflict free. There have been regular displays of lack of psychological involvement in public affairs, civic obligations and electioneering processes. Therefore, in addition to poor weather, many factors have created high voter apathy to be a cancer in zambian political elections. Doc political participation and political apathy in nigeria. Political violence and its effects on social development. Electoral malpractice is a threat to democratic consolidation. Through the analysis of what kassas 1985 referred to as the lsquothreesystemsrsquo, that is, the technosphere, biosphere and sociosphere, of the nigerian environment, a number of substantive and procedural problems are characterized. Contending issues and the way forward idike, adeline nnenna, ph. Determine whether civil servants and businessmen resident in. The following are a inecs incompetence, especially in regard to organisation at polling units and the process of votingb unemployment. Five studies on the causes and consequences of voter turnout a dissertation presented by anthony george fowler to the department of government in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of doctor of philosophy in the subject of political science harvard university cambridge, ma march 20. The major cause of voter apathy is a general lack of agency.
At such a moment, indif ference is worse than a sin of omission. The research is credited to brics international resource solution. The threepart course covers the role of citizens in the electoral process, how to exercise civic responsibility, and how to hold officials accountable. It can consist of interest apathy, voter apathy, and information apathy. Causes of voterpolitical apathy in nigeria research cyber. What are the causes of political apathy in america 1. This was a serious threat that could cause anarchy unless restrained by a. It can be categorized as the indifference of an individual and a lack of interest in participating in political activities. Get free research paper on effect and causes of political aparthy in nigeria. This research is a first step in looking into the root causes of voter apathy in the country. There can be many reasons why people have a disinterest towards.