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ABSTRACT
This study was carried out to examine the impact of violence on voter abstention in Edo State, Nigeria. It drew sample from the 3,233,366 population of Benin City, being the State capital. It made use of four objectives and two hypotheses. A 100% response rate was obtained from the questionnaires that was administered. The survey method of data collection was applied in the study because it is only the method best suited for the collection of data from a sample of a chosen population of any study, which was applicable in the study. The findings from this study shows most of the respondents know what electoral violence is, this is because they have either experienced electoral violence or know someone who has. The study found out that the main cause of violence in Edo State is due to greed and selfishness. It also observed that people allow themselves to be used for electoral violence because of their poor economic condition. They do this in anticipation to be rewarded with money or otherwise. It also reveals that electoral violence has a significant impact on voter abstention in Edo State. It shows that due to the reoccurring trend of violence during elections, most residents of the State are afraid to go out to exercise their franchise during general elections. From the study, it is observed that distrust in the electoral system and processes erupts due to election related violence. The study recommends that the government should provide enough security agencies during elections to give the voters a crisis free election, the government should enlighten the masses on the ills and effects of electoral violence on the society to discourage the act. Finally, government should mandate all political parties to educate, orient and discourage their different aspirants from making use of violence to gain political power.
