¹Ediagbonya Michael (Ph.D), ²Dr. Olumide Ogunrotimi, ³Ukhurebor Aghahiusi Roland

¹Senior Lecturer, Department Of History and International Studies, Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria

²Senior Lecturer ,Department Of English And Literary Studies

³Lecturer,Department Of Sociology and Anthropology, University Of Benin

This paper examines election rigging and violence in Nigeria in historical perspective. Particularly, the 1959, 1964, 1965 and 1983 elections came to focus. It discusses the nature of election rigging and forms of violence in Nigeria electoral process. The causes and consequences of election rigging and violence in Nigeria were demonstrated.

Data for the study was obtained through oral interview as primary sources and the secondary sources like books, newspapers, articles, journals, theses and dissertation were also used.

It was found that rigging is almost synonymous with Nigerian elections. It was also found that the aim of electoral rigging or fraud is to frustrate the democratic aspirations of citizens who have voted or would have voted into office someone other than the victor.

In conclusion, the elections between the period of 1959-1983 were bedeviled by several forms of violence which consisted of murder, assassination, arson, sabotage, armed attack, intra and inter-party clashes, hostility, thuggery and rage through physical force directed against persons or property.

Election, Rigging, Violence, Politics and Injustice.

1) Adekanye, J. B. (2003). The Retired Military as Emergent Power Factor in Nigeria” Nigeria: Educational Book.

2) Adele, J. (2012). Election Violence and Nigeria’s 2011 General Election. A Journal on International Review of Social Science and Humanities, Vol. 4.

3) Adeleke, J. O. (2012). Violence and Women Participation in Politics: A Case Study of Ekiti State, Nigeria, International Journal of Sociology and Anthropology, 5(1).

4) Ademoyega, A. (1981). Why We Struck: The Study of the First Nigeria Coup: Ibadan: Evans.

5) Aifowose, R. (1988). Violence and Politics in Nigeria. the Tiv Experience: Enugu, Nigeria and New York Publisher.

6) Akin Omoboriowo, NPN Candidate, August, 1983.

7) Alemika, E. E. O. (2011). Post-Election Violence in Nigeria: Emerging Trend and Lessons. Cleen foundation.

8) Amendment to the Constitution (Orders in Council), 1959.

9) Angling, D. G. (1965). “Brinkmanship in Nigeria: The Federal Election of 1964-65. International Journal, 20(2): 173-188

10) Broadcast by President Azikiwe on December 10, 1964.

11) Broadcast by Sir James Robertson, October 28, 1959

12) Corsini, R. J. (1976). “The Dictionary of Psychology: Brumer: Taylor and Francis Group.

13) Daily Independent, June 9, 2003.

14) Daily Times Weekly Publication, September 28, 1983.

15) Ediagbonya, M. (2020). “Nigeria Constitutional Development in Historical Perspective, 1914-1960”. American Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences Research, Volume 4, Issue 2, 242-248, February, USA.

16) Ediagbonya, M. and Aluko, Y. E. (2020). “The Fall of the Second Republic of Nigeria, 1979-1983: A Lesson for the Future”. International Journal of Scientific Research and Engineering, Development, 3(3), 807-827. India

17) Ediagbonya, Michael (1984). “The Fall of the Second Republic of Nigeria. Being National Certificate in Education (N.C.E) Project Presented to the Department of History, College of Education, Agbor.

18) Ediagbonya, Michael (2022). “Personality, Conflicts and the Nigerian Civil War” in Kelechi A. K. and George Klay Kieh (eds). Civil Wars in Africa: USA: Lexington Books.

19) Election (Political Science) Encyclopedia Britannica online retrieved 18 August, 2009.

20) Eluwa, C. I., Ukagwu, M. O., Nwachukwu, U. N. and Nwaubani, A. (2005). A History of Nigeria Onitsha. African First Publishers Limited.

21) Falola, T. and Ihonvbere, J. (1985). “The Rise and Fall of Nigeria’s Second Republic, 1979-84, London Zed.

22) https://www.britannica.com/topoc/election.political science

23) Nwolise, O. (2007). Electoral Violence and Nigeria’s 2007 Election. A Journal of African Election, Vol. 6, No. 2.

24) Ojiako, J. O. (1981). Nigeria Yesterday, Today and…Onitsha: Africana Educational Publishers (NIG) Ltd.

25) Ojo, E.O. (2006). Aspects of Nigerian History, Lagos: King Julius Educational Publishers.

26) Ojo, James (2007). Government and Citizenship Education in Nigeria, Vol. II, Justice Jeco Press and Publishers Ltd.

27) Okoiguni, R. O. (2006). The Role of the Nigeria Police in Elections. Lagos

28) Olav, Stoke (1970). An Introduction to the Politics, Economy and Social Setting of Modern Nigeria, Sweden: Soderoni and Finn.

29) Olomola, I. (2005). Ekiti Parapo Aspiration Since 1890’s Osun: Kolad Venture Nigeria Ltd.

30) Omotosho, F. O. and Omotoso, A. (2016). The Sociology of the Yoruba, Ibadan: Ibadan University Press.

31) Oral Interview with Barrister Charles Aiyamenklue, age- 56, Occupation-Lawyer, Venue-Edo State House of Assembly, Benin City, Date-1-2-2022.

32) Oral Interview with Dr. Duyile, age-58, occupation-lecturing, venue-Date-16-10-21

33) Oral Interview with Hon. Efosa Igunbor, age 67, occupation –business, venue-Abudu, Date-6-3-22.

34) Oral Interview with Hon. Influence Osagie, age 61, occupation-business, venue, University of Benin, Date-16-6-22.

35) Oyeleye, Oyediran (1998). Nigeria Constitutional Development. Ibadan: Oyediran Consults International.

36) Proclamation Issued by the Governor-General James Robertson, October 28, 1959.

37) Tamuno, T. N. (1972). The Evolution of the Nigerian State: London: Longman: The Nigerian Tribune, 1964.

38) Yaqub, N. (2002). Political Parties in the Transition in Bob Onuora and M. M. Fadakinla (eds.) Transition in Nigeria: 1970-1999 Lagos: Malthouse Press, Ltd.

VOLUME 06 ISSUE 01 JANUARY 2023

There is an Open Access article, distributed under the term of the Creative Commons Attribution – Non Commercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits remixing, adapting and building upon the work for non-commercial use, provided the original work is properly cited.