Electoral Hate Crimes And Violence During The 2023 General Elections In Lafia Local Governemt Area, Nasarawa State, Nigeria
Anande Vitalis Hunduh, Aza Job Tuji
Keywords: Electoral crimes, violence, 2023 elections, victims, voters
Abstract
Although the Electoral Act 2022 forbids electoral crimes, electoral hate crimes are widespread in Nigeria. However, perpetrators of electoral hate crimes in most instances are a mystery; victims are sometimes known, but consequences remain ignored. This study investigates electoral hate crime and violence in Lafia Local Government Area, Nasarawa State during the 2023 general elections. Data for this study emerged through a cross sectional survey, which also involved focus group discussions (FGDs), key informant interviews (KIIs), and observation of personnel of the Nigeria Police Force, and the Independent National Electoral Commission, political party leaders, religious leaders, traditional rulers, and female and male community members within Lafia Local Government Area. Purposive sampling was used to select participants in the study. Sixteen FGDs and twenty KIIs were conducted for the study. Data collected were analyzed using NVivo software. The study found that politicians – especially candidates, and male youth were vanguards of electoral hate crimes and violence. Victims of electoral hate crimes and violence were individual members of either the People Democratic Party or the All Progressive Congress, relations of politicians contesting for elective positions from these political parties, members of Eggon or Hausa/Fulani ethnic groups, Christians or Muslims, and Independent National Electoral Commission. The study concluded that electoral hate crimes and violence were widespread during the 2023 general elections. The study recommends that there is need to amend the Electoral Act and assign stiffer penalties to electoral hate crimes offenders. Also, there is need for more voters’ education in order to promote tolerance and understanding among diverse political groups and interests.
Author Biography
Anande Vitalis Hunduh
Department of Sociology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Jos, Jos, Nigeria
Aza Job Tuji
Williams ICT Consults, No. B22, Off Celestial Street, Dutse, Abuja