You have no items in your shopping cart.
ABSTRACT
The phenomenon of vote buying in elections has become a bane for Nigeria’s fledgling democracy. Although the menace seems rampant during general elections, vote-buying is common among members of political parties, especially during primary and congress elections The study examined the problem of exchange of money for votes that has been prevalent since the country's transition to democracy in 1999. The research questions were framed to find out the root causes of vote buying during elections in Edo state and objectives were tailored in line with the questions. The study utilized the clientalism theory, which posits that gaining public loyalty and political support with any form of inducements is central to transactional practice. Furthermore, the survey method was deployed, with a sample size of 200 respondents. Data was collected using a four-point Likert scale questionnaire, and analyzed using simple percentage calculations. The findings of the study indicate that the lack of effectiveness in state institutions has contributed to the commercialization of votes. As a result, the study suggests the importance of political education and awareness campaigns to combat the prevalence of vote buying in Edo state.
