ABSTRACT

This study critically looked at vote buying and democratic governance in Nigeria: a case study of Edo State 2020 governorship election. The study adopted the descriptive survey research design, data were collected through the aid of a questionnaire. This study attempted to find out vote buying and its implication on democratic governance a study of Edo State 2020 governorship election.  Consequently, the specific objectives of this study were:  to determine whether material gifts which politicians and their agents issue to the electorates during the October 2020 gubernatorial election in Edo State influence their voting patterns; to determine the people’s perception of why candidates buy votes during the October 10,2020 gubernatorial election in Edo State. The questionnaire was structured according to the research questions and distributed to sample population of 100 respondent’s voters in the three senatorial district. The findings of the study revealed that that vote-buying and issuance of material gifts to electorates during elections influenced the voting pattern and is rife among the downtrodden and therefore, poses a very big challenge to all stakeholders in Nigeria electoral system, particularly (INEC). Another finding of this study is that, the people are aware that issuance of material gifts during elections amounts to electoral corruption, has an impact on good governance and therefore, not a good practice. The study recommended among other things; political education and civic awareness by relevant institutions to enlighten the electorate on the futuristic implications of vote buying in the democratic process; enforcement of the existing electoral regulations on party finances; and enthronement of good governance and improvement of the conditions of the ordinary people this is because where poverty is reduced to the barest minimum; the electorates can then make independent electoral decisions in voting for credible politicians rather than incompetent but money spending politicians; strengthening the democratic institutions in Nigeria. There is a need for further research and academic interest in the area of vote-buying and its perceived implications on democratic governance. These, if tenaciously adhered to, will no doubt launch Nigeria into an enduring democratic process.