ABSTRACT
The attainment of adequate electoral participation in a democratic setting is essential to maintain legitimacy, credibility, and stability since democracy is about popular representation. However, from available data worldwide, Nigeria inclusive, electoral or voter participation is gradually but steadily on the decline. This study thus surveyed the opinions of Nigerians on the factors influencing low-level participation of eligible voters in the Nigerian electoral process. Its focus is on the non-voting public. The paper posits that the abstention of voters from the electoral process in Nigeria is due to alienation. It used data obtained from respondents’ in the six geo-political zones in Nigeria.
The study adopted the mixed model research method. A sample of 1,200 respondents was chosen from the selected local government areas of the six geo-political zones using the stratified random sampling technique. The structured questionnaire measurement instrument was used in eliciting responses from the subjects. The simple percentages and Pearson’s Correlation Coefficient statistical techniques were utilized to test and determine the degree of association intrinsic in the stated research questions for the quantitative data. The descriptive- analytical technique was adopted to analyze the qualitative aspect of the data.
The findings from the study showed that the failure of elected political officers to fulfill electoral promises and work for the interest of the citizenry is responsible for voter alienation in Nigeria. Also, that voter alienation is a factor of electoral fraud and political violence as perpetrated by political opponents and political parties during elections. Consequent upon the findings, the following suggestions became necessary: The elected political officials should ensure good governance based on meeting the yearning, expectations, and needs of the citizenry; the electoral system of Nigeria should be strengthened to ensure credibility in the electoral process; fraudulent practices during elections should be strictly penalized with appropriate sanctions while the federal and state governments should put on modalities to mitigate the incidences of violence during elections. It is pertinent to state here that the findings indicate the need to create the awareness and imperativeness of soliciting the commitment of everyone to democratic development. Achieving a credible, free, fair and effective electoral process would, therefore, require the partnership of all stakeholders in the Nigerian democratic project.
Key Words: Political alienation, voter behaviour, elections, mixed model research, democratic governance.
